IPL 2026: ‘Batting is letting them down’ – Aakash Chopra on KKR’s problems after defeat vs CSK

Aakash Chopra opined that while the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have problems in the bowling department due to injuries to star players, it is the batting which is not clicking for Ajinkya Rahane and Co. His assessment came after the three-time champions lost to the Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, April 14, by 32 runs.

The bowling lineup did reasonably well after Rahane won the toss and opted to field first. Dangerous batters like Sanju Samson, Ayush Mhatre, and Dewald Brevis spent a considerable amount of time at the crease. However, Sunil Narine and his fellow bowlers still managed to keep the Men in Yellow down to a total below 200 (192/5).

However, the batters failed to live up to their potential once again. CSK dropped three catches, but the batters who got the reprieves failed to make the hosts pay. Chopra said that a team which has Anukul Roy batting at No. 9 has to do better with the willow.

“KKR’s bowling problems are well documented courtesy the injuries. But it’s batting that’s letting them down consistently…any team with Anukul Roy at 9 must do better than this. The worst ever start for KKR…not a single W in first 5 games,” the former India opener wrote on his official ‘X’ handle.

KKR continue languishing at the foot of the points table, having lost four out of their first five matches. On the other hand, CSK have bounced back commendably after losing their first three games of the season. With back-to-back victories, they have displaced the Mumbai Indians to move to No. 8 in the standings.

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