With Abhishek Nayar Back, KKR Hope to Revive Batting Form Against High-Flying Gujarat Titans
Press Trust of India
Updated: April 20, 2025 | 1:17 PM IST
Read Time: 3 min
Kolkata: Reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are banking on the return of Abhishek Nayar to rejuvenate their struggling batting line-up as they prepare to face the in-form Gujarat Titans in their next IPL 2025 fixture at Eden Gardens on Monday.
KKR are reeling from a shocking collapse in their previous match, where they were bowled out for just 95 while chasing a modest 112 against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. The dismal performance underscored deeper issues in their batting, which the team hopes to address with Nayar’s arrival.
Nayar, who was recently dismissed from his role as India’s assistant coach by the BCCI, has rejoined KKR in a familiar role. His return, ahead of any formal announcement regarding his national exit, is seen as a morale booster for the team, who currently sit mid-table with six points from seven games. KKR must now win at least five of their remaining seven matches to stay in the playoff hunt.
Already, Nayar has started working closely with underperforming batters like vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer and Ramandeep Singh. Iyer, this season’s most expensive KKR player at ₹23.75 crore, has managed only 121 runs at an average of 24.20. Ramandeep has fared worse, scoring just 29 runs across six innings.
Andre Russell has added only 34 runs from five matches, while Rinku Singh has 116 runs at an average of 38.66. The only positives in the batting department so far have been Ajinkya Rahane (221 runs, two fifties) and youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi (170 runs), although the latter is still finding consistency.
At the top of the order, Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine have shown flashes of form but have failed to sustain momentum. KKR will look to Nayar’s tactical input to stabilize their batting core.
Ahead of the match, two pitches have been prepared at Eden Gardens—one with a slightly grassier surface, which remains untrimmed. The final playing surface will be decided based on team strategy. KKR, meanwhile, have expressed dissatisfaction over not getting a significant “home advantage.”
Flashback to 2014: Can History Repeat Itself?
KKR fans may recall the infamous 2014 collapse against Rajasthan Royals when the team, chasing 171, went from 121/0 to 160/6, losing by 10 runs. That defeat, however, sparked a nine-match winning streak and ultimately led to their second IPL title. The Knight Riders will be hoping for a similar turnaround in 2025.
Gujarat Titans: Formidable and Focused
Gujarat Titans, led by Shubman Gill, have been a dominant force this season, suffering only two defeats so far. Their bowling has been particularly strong, with pacer Prasidh Krishna taking 14 wickets at an average of 14.35 in seven matches. His tactical variations were on display in his recent four-wicket haul against Lucknow Super Giants.
Supporting him, left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore has claimed 11 wickets and is expected to enjoy the Eden pitch’s variable bounce. Mohammed Siraj also features in the top 10 wicket-takers this season.
In the batting line-up, opener B Sai Sudharsan (365 runs) is only three runs behind Orange Cap leader Nicholas Pooran. Jos Buttler has been reliable at No. 3, scoring 315 runs at an impressive average of 63.00. Further down the order, Sherfane Rutherford has embraced the role of a finisher with power-hitting prowess.
As KKR gear up for a crucial clash, all eyes will be on how Abhishek Nayar’s influence translates into on-field performance and whether the Knight Riders can bounce back against the Titans’ well-oiled unit.