KKR Mentor Bravo: Team Lacks Confidence After Fifth Consecutive Loss

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) suffered another defeat in the IPL 2025, losing to Gujarat Titans by 39 runs, with both captain Ajinkya Rahane and mentor Dwayne Bravo attributing the loss to the team's struggling batting unit. Despite the bowlers' commendable efforts in restricting Gujarat Titans to under 200 runs, KKR's batters failed to capitalize, particularly struggling to build momentum during the powerplay and throughout the middle overs. Bravo and Rahane highlighted that a lack of confidence among the batters, especially the openers—who hold the lowest average in the tournament—has been a persistent issue, impacting the team's ability to chase challenging targets. Andre Russell's limited impact was noted, but both leaders stressed that the responsibility lies with the entire batting lineup, not just individual players. The team is focusing on mental preparation, maintaining a left-right batting combination to counter spinners, and seeking better starts to allow finishers like Russell to play their natural game. Both Rahane and Bravo remain hopeful that with improved batting performances, KKR can turn their season around.