Finishing, an issue for the team: KKR mentor Bravo

KKR mentor Dwayne Bravo addresses batting issues after fifth IPL loss, emphasizing the need for a stronger lineup.

After another batting failure against Gujarat Titans resulting in Kolkata Knight Riders’ fifth loss in the Indian Premier League, mentor Dwayne Bravo admitted that finishing had been an issue with the defending champion this season.

With Andre Russell and Rinku Singh not being able to rise to the occasion, Bravo said the team had been looking to find the right combination in batting.

“It’s a concern. Definitely, those are things that are discussed. You always try to bug the players who have been there and done it before. There is a fine line between bugging a player and trying to come up with the best combination. We can also try to make some changes, necessary adjustments to give the team that spot that is missing,” Bravo said after KKR’s 39-run loss to GT at the Eden Gardens here on Monday.

Bravo said KKR bowlers fought back to restrict GT for less than 200, but the batting unit did not perform well.

According to Bravo, without enough runs under their belt, KKR batters were low on confidence. “But the guys are preparing well and practising well. It’s just not working out in the middle.”

GT spinner Sai Kishore praised his team’s batters for scoring 198 and putting pressure on KKR. “On a challenging pitch, batsmanship comes into play. Great to see Sai (Sudharsan) and Shubman (Gill), they have been batting brilliantly. Because of them, the pitch looked much easier,” said Sai Kishore.