IPL 2025 - KKR vs PBKS - Can Kolkata Knight Riders find a way out of their middle-order mess?

Can KKR find a way out of their middle-order mess?

The thumping heartbeat of their IPL 2024 triumph is flatlining, and the numbers don't look pretty

VLive Sports DeskSyndicated Wire Coverage (ESPNcricinfo / Sports Feeds)

Apr 25, 2025, 3:38 PM

Andre Russell's wicket signalled the end of the matchAFP/Getty Images

Match at a Glance & Key Facts

TournamentIPLSeason 2025

Venue

Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Kolkata

Format & Details

T20 • SINGLE

No result

Player in Focus

Venkatesh Iyer

allrounder

Andre Russell

allrounder

KEY TAKEAWAYSQuick highlights & editorial summary

VLive Sports Desk

Editorial Angle:Analysis of Can KKR find a way out of their middle-order mess?: thumping heartbeat of their IPL 2024 triumph is flatlining, and the numbers don't look pretty — assessing tactical impact and tournament progression.
Score Snapshot:PBKS 201/4 vs KKR 7/0 — No result
Tactical Context:His struggles against spin have been especially stark, drawing sharp criticism from former Australia captain Aaron Finch following the loss to GT.
Tournament Context:Part of IPL 2025. Follow real-time tournament standings, fixture progression, and live scorecards on VLive.

Cricinformed: KKR's middle-order muddle

KKR's middle-order on paper is strong. On-field? The impact is missing. Can KKR turn their season around by solving their middle order struggles?

There's a fine line between being inconsistent and being completely out of sync, and right now, Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) middle order is in danger of crossing it. The thumping heartbeat of KKR's batting in IPL 2024 is flatlining this season. KKR's inability to find any fluency through the middle overs has mirrored their broader batting slump this season. Their capitulation in Mullanpur -- where they failed to chase a modest 112 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) - felt like a breaking point. A limp performance against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Monday only deepened the malaise.

What's most concerning is that the personnel hasn't changed much - the output certainly has. Among all teams in IPL 2025, KKR's middle order (positions 4 to 8) has the lowest collective average (20.00), and KKR's average through the middle overs (7th-16th) this season (17.4) is also the worst in the league.