Parthiv Patel, assistant coach of the Gujarat Titans, pinpointed fielding—specifically catching—as the decisive factor in a run-laden Eden Gardens contest where his side’s five-game winning streak ended with a 29-run defeat. Despite the loss, Patel highlighted the quality of Finn Allen’s batting, particularly against Gujarat’s new-ball options.
Key takeaways
- Parthiv Patel said catching proved to be the key difference in the high-scoring match at Eden Gardens.
- Gujarat’s fielding mistakes helped all three KKR batters who made major contributions.
- Finn Allen struck 93 off 35 balls after being dropped on 33, including a 60-run burst off 18 deliveries.
- Cameron Green finished unbeaten on 52 off 28 after a dropped chance at 23, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi went on to score 82* after a spill at 53.
- KKR posted 247/2, making the chase that Gujarat needed for qualification look improbable after the total was set.
Fielding lapses and the impact of missed chances
Patel acknowledged that GT’s supporters were left frustrated by missed opportunities, noting that once KKR reached a large total, the margin for error vanished. He pointed out that the Titans’ errors created momentum for each of the three KKR batters who turned the game.
Finn Allen was dropped by Mohammed Siraj on 33 at long-on. The reprieve proved costly as Allen went on to hammer 93 off 35 balls, with 60 coming off only 18 deliveries. Cameron Green suffered a similar fate when Arshad Khan dropped him at 23 and even misjudged the ball as it slipped towards the boundary for four; Green then closed the innings unbeaten on 52 off 28 balls. Angkrish Raghuvanshi was also given a life when Washington Sundar failed to hold a chance on 53, and he capitalised with an unbeaten 82.
With KKR putting up 247/2, Patel said a Gujarat victory—one they required to keep qualification hopes alive—looked unlikely even before the second innings could fully unfold. Still, he felt the batting display from Allen deserved credit, particularly for how it came against Gujarat’s pace and quality new-ball attack.
Allen’s innings: facing Siraj and Rabada, then taking responsibility
Patel praised Allen’s approach, saying the pitch did not appear easy and that Gujarat’s bowling unit included established fast threats such as Mohammed Siraj and KG Rabada. He felt Allen’s performance stood out because it came against that top-end pace and quality.
Allen, reflecting on his own knock, described the early phase as “tricky” while facing the Siraj-Rabada combination. He explained that his plan was to commit to the ball that came his way and to manage the strike when necessary, especially if the ball wasn’t offering the shot he wanted. He also noted that the wicket became one where patience and selection mattered, and he wanted to stay at the crease for as long as possible.
Allen further said that after captain Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal, he felt he had to shoulder more responsibility. He linked that shift in role to a clearer intention to remain involved in the innings and keep the scoreboard moving.
How Allen planned to keep it simple
On his batting method, Allen said his focus was on maintaining intent from the start, getting into good positions early, and looking to hit boundaries when the opportunity presented itself. If the ball was not there to attack, he aimed to preserve his wicket by working the strike and avoiding unnecessary risk.
He added that the overarching plan was to place himself in stronger areas more consistently, which would help him handle conditions where the ball could move off the wicket and swing. For Allen, the key was to keep the approach straightforward while adapting shot-by-shot.
