Aaron Finch Analyzes Kolkata Knight Riders' Disappointing Season

In a recent analysis, former Australian captain Aaron Finch discussed the Kolkata Knight Riders' disappointing season, attributing their struggles to key management changes and missed opportunities. Despite bringing in new leadership, KKR failed to maintain their winning streak and ultimately saw their title defense end prematurely due to rain. Finch emphasized the impact of Andre Russell's batting position and reflected on critical moments that led to their downfall. This season's challenges serve as a reminder of the team's potential and the need for strategic adjustments moving forward.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 18, 2025, 14:02 IST

Finch's Insights on KKR's Struggles

New Delhi [India] - Former Australian captain Aaron Finch expressed that the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have only themselves to blame for their disappointing season, which ended abruptly due to rain on Saturday.

With a legacy to uphold, KKR faced significant challenges after making key changes in their management. The three-time champions struggled to find consistency, often winning sporadically while facing a series of losses that left them in a precarious position.

Team mentor Gautam Gambhir and captain Shreyas Iyer took on new roles, with the franchise bringing in Dwayne Bravo and Ajinkya Rahane to help fill the leadership void.

Despite these new additions, KKR failed to recapture their winning spirit and ultimately fell short of making the playoffs.

As the defending champions, they needed a victory against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who had been performing well throughout the season.

However, heavy rain disrupted the match before it could start, leaving KKR with just one point and ending their title defense on a sour note.

Finch pointed out that one of the key issues was the positioning of 'match-winner' Andre Russell, who was batting too low in the order, limiting his ability to impact games.

Reflecting on KKR's loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Finch noted that despite having a winning chance, they failed to secure the victory, which was emblematic of their season's struggles.

"They only have themselves to blame. After that last game against CSK, they had it in their grasp but couldn't finish it off, leading to a remarkable win for Chennai. Throughout the season, KKR had too many moments where they just didn't perform," Finch remarked.