Finch and Pujara Criticize Venkatesh Iyer’s Lack of Intent in KKR’s Defeat to GT

Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) latest defeat in IPL 2025 has raised serious questions about their approach during a stiff 199-run chase against Gujarat Titans (GT). The 39-run loss at the hands of GT, following another poor outing against Punjab Kings, has triggered criticism from former players Aaron Finch and Cheteshwar Pujara—particularly aimed at Venkatesh Iyer’s slow innings.

Walking in at No. 4 with KKR at 43 for 2 in the sixth over, Iyer struggled to find rhythm against GT’s spinners. He managed just 14 runs off 19 deliveries without hitting a single boundary, eventually falling to Sai Kishore. With the rest of the line-up also failing to deliver—barring captain Ajinkya Rahane’s 50 off 36—KKR crumbled under pressure.

Former Australia captain Aaron Finch didn’t hold back in his analysis on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out, describing Iyer’s knock as lacking intent.

“You need to have an intent to take it [spin] down,” Finch said. “You can’t hit a six or a boundary if you’re not trying to. If your first instinct is to just knock it into the leg side and run one, then you’re on a hiding to nothing. It was just mesmerising—the lack of intent.”

KKR’s batting line-up on the day was deep, with youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi slotted in as low as No. 9. The move to send Iyer ahead of Raghuvanshi was a tactical one—intended to counter GT’s spinners with a left-handed option. However, India Test veteran Cheteshwar Pujara questioned whether Iyer was given clear instructions from the support staff.

“Sometimes, as a batter, you feel the conditions are challenging,” Pujara noted. “But that’s what the timeout is for. You reassess the strategy. I do agree Venkatesh didn’t play the role he was supposed to, but was he told not to take on Rashid? I don’t know what the message was.”

The defeat was compounded by KKR’s conservative approach during the middle overs. At the ten-over mark, they were 68 for 2, with the required run rate ballooning to over 13. Finch was particularly critical of the lack of urgency shown.

“They had nine batters in their team,” Finch said. “That tells me they were going to go ultra-aggressive. But instead, they just let the required rate get out of hand. It was almost like they didn’t want to lose by 100 runs and settled for 160. That was a horrible batting display.”

Pujara also pointed out flaws in KKR’s bowling effort, saying the team allowed GT to score far too many on a pitch that offered help for spinners.

“It wasn’t a flat pitch,” Pujara explained. “If there’s turn on offer and you’re conceding over ten an over in the last ten, then you’re always behind. They should’ve restricted GT to around 180.”

This was KKR’s second straight loss while chasing, following their failed pursuit of 112 against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur. With mounting pressure and inconsistencies in both batting and bowling, the team’s playoff hopes could quickly fade unless they address their tactical shortcomings.