KKR Losing Close Games: Where Are They Going Wrong?

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are having a tough start to IPL 2026. After four matches, they have just one point. The biggest concern is not just losing, but how they are losing matches they should have won.

In their recent game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), KKR were in a strong position for most of the match. At one point, their win probability was above 85%. But suddenly, the game slipped away. Mukul Choudhary played a brilliant innings and turned the match around in the final overs.

Former cricketer Dale Steyn explained the main issue: KKR are missing “smart cricket.” In simple words, they are not making the right decisions at the right time. Instead of bowling to the weaker batter, they kept giving chances to the set batter, and that changed the game.

KKR’s problems actually started earlier with the bat. They scored 181/4, which looked decent, but it was not enough on that pitch. The main issue was the slow middle overs. Between overs 11 and 15, KKR scored only 17 runs and lost three wickets. This phase completely reduced their momentum.

Ajinkya Rahane played well with 41 runs at a good strike rate, and Rovman Powell added 39* at the end. But the rest of the batting lineup struggled to score quickly.

There were also concerns about individual players. Cameron Green looked unsure about his approach. Instead of attacking, he played too many dot balls, which increased pressure on the team. Rinku Singh also looked out of form, scoring just 4 runs and struggling with his timing.

In bowling, KKR did many things right at first. They took 7 wickets by the 16th over and were clearly ahead in the match. But then came poor decisions. Cameron Green was given the 19th over, even though other bowlers like Kartik Tyagi, Navdeep Saini and Vaibhav Arora still had overs left. Green ended up conceding 16 runs, which shifted the momentum.

Another mistake was not changing their bowling plan quickly. Mukul Choudhary was hitting short balls easily, but KKR continued with the same plan. They switched to a wider line only in the final over, which was too late.

These small mistakes made a big difference. As Rovman Powell said, it is easy to analyse after the match, but on the field, execution under pressure is what matters most.

Right now, KKR’s main issue is not talent but decision-making. They need to play smarter cricket, especially in pressure situations. Their batting needs more intent in the middle overs, and their bowling needs better planning in the final overs.

If KKR can fix these areas, they still have the players to turn their season around. But if these mistakes continue, they may keep losing matches that are already in their control.

Relevant news