IPL 2025: Kumble Surprised by RR's Decision on Buttler, KKR's Resource Utilization Issues
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Synopsis
As IPL 2025 heats up, both Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders face challenges in the points table. Anil Kumble expresses surprise over RR's failure to retain Buttler and highlights KKR's inefficient use of resources. Both teams must improve to have any chance of playoff qualification.
Key Takeaways
- Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders struggle in IPL 2025.
- Anil Kumble emphasizes the impact of Sanju Samson's absence on RR.
- RR's failure to retain Jos Buttler raises eyebrows.
- Andre Russell needs to be utilized better by KKR.
- Both teams must improve to secure playoff spots.
New Delhi, April 23 (NationPress) It can be said that Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) find themselves in a similar situation regarding the IPL 2025 points table and playoff prospects. The defending champions, KKR, are currently in seventh place with six points, while RR, who won the inaugural edition, are just below them with four points.
As the race for playoff spots heats up, both teams face a significant challenge. Anil Kumble, the renowned Indian leg-spinner and former captain of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), expressed that RR, currently on a four-match losing streak, are feeling the absence of Sanju Samson—first sidelined due to a finger injury and now a side strain—as well as the repercussions of not retaining Jos Buttler.
“I believe that in both matches RR lost (against Delhi Capitals and Lucknow Super Giants), they had the advantage and should not have lost. This is something that can occur in T20 cricket. The absence of Sanju Samson is significant as he is a crucial player for Rajasthan Royals,” Kumble stated.
“It's encouraging to see Yashasvi performing well, but Jos Buttler was a key figure for RR for a long time, consistently damaging the opposition. We witnessed his impact with GT.”
“I was somewhat surprised that RR chose not to retain him. However, with the current squad, they should have secured victories in both of those matches. Such occurrences are part of the game, where teams lose from winning situations. This is something they need to evaluate,” Kumble mentioned during a virtual conversation with IANS, as part of the ongoing “Revenge Week” in the tournament.
As RR prepares to face RCB at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday, Kumble hopes that the team has effectively addressed its issues with finishing matches. “They have the skill to beat any side in this competition. It’s about realizing that the game isn’t over until the last ball is bowled. Teams can win from challenging positions, but if you’re struggling, you might as well think of it as having only 19 overs to chase rather than 20, which could help Rajasthan.”
Conversely, KKR has suffered five losses in their eight matches, and Kumble remarked that the lack of strong starts from the openers has burdened the middle order. So far, KKR has experimented with three different opening pairs, yet none have managed a 50-run opening partnership. Additionally, the powerful Andre Russell hasn’t performed to expectations, scoring only 55 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 119.56.
“Regarding KKR, I feel they haven’t fully utilized their resources. Last season, their success revolved around the openings provided by Phil Salt and Sunil Narine. That hasn’t been the case this season, which has increased pressure on the middle order,” Kumble elaborated.
“I believe that KKR should leverage Andre Russell more effectively. He ought to be batting higher in the order to have a greater impact. In the match against Punjab, at 60/2 in the dugout, it would have been ideal to send Andre Russell to finish the game quickly. If he gets out on the first ball, it’s fine since there’s still batting left. But that opportunity didn’t arise.”
“By the time Russell batted, he had to contend with the bowlers instead of regular batsmen ahead of him. In the last game, he came in when the match was nearly out of reach—17 to 18 runs per over. This can happen once in ten or twenty games, but it cannot be a recurring issue. KKR needs to address this,” he stated.
Despite these challenges, Kumble believes KKR still has the potential to perform well in upcoming matches. However, he warned that both KKR and RR will struggle to reach the playoffs if they don’t secure favorable outcomes.
“They possess a strong bowling lineup, including two world-class spinners. Their fast bowlers, Harshit Rana and Vaibhav, have been impressive. Jinx (captain Ajinkya Rahane) is showing solid form at the top of the order. While Venkatesh Iyer hasn’t hit his stride, KKR definitely has what it takes.”
“The next few days are crucial for them. After their recent loss to Punjab, they need to bounce back. Both teams have to turn things around quickly in their upcoming games—RR against RCB and KKR against Punjab. Otherwise, making the playoffs will be very challenging,” he concluded.
IPL 2025 “Revenge Week” runs from April 20-27, available live and exclusively on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
