Anil Kumble Advises KKR to Elevate Venkatesh Iyer for IPL 2025 Playoff Push
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) face a critical juncture in IPL 2025, holding a precarious position in the playoff race with only seven points from nine matches. Former Indian captain Anil Kumble has offered tactical advice, urging the team to reposition Venkatesh Iyer as an opener to revitalize their struggling batting lineup.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Kumble highlighted KKR’s inconsistency in selecting a playing XI, having utilized 18 players already this season. “They still haven’t figured out the perfect XI,” Kumble noted. “They’ve used 18 players already. With so many changes, it’s hard to build rhythm.” The recent inclusion of Chetan Sakariya and Rovman Powell, who debuted in the washed-out match against Punjab Kings, further underscores this issue. Despite retaining a core group of players from their 2024 championship run, including Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, and Ajinkya Rahane, KKR has struggled to replicate their winning formula.
Kumble pinpointed the team’s batting performance as the primary concern. He believes Venkatesh Iyer, currently underutilized in the middle order, holds the key to unlocking KKR’s top-order potential. Iyer’s aggressive batting style is best suited to exploiting the powerplay, a strategy that proved successful during KKR’s 2024 playoff run where he boasted a staggering powerplay strike rate of 220. “[Venkatesh] needs that pace on the ball,” Kumble explained. “The powerplay is where he can play his natural game, hit over the top. He’s done it in the past — that’s how he helped get KKR into the playoffs in Dubai. They missed an opportunity in this game to open with him and Sunil Narine.”
This season, Iyer has managed only 135 runs in six innings, primarily batting at number four or five. His solitary significant contribution came against Sunrisers Hyderabad with a brisk 60 off 29 balls. This pales in comparison to his impact as an opener in the previous season.
Kumble also suggested further tactical adjustments to improve team balance, advocating for the inclusion of wicketkeeper Luvnith Sisodia and the return of fast bowler Anrich Nortje in place of Chetan Sakariya. While KKR’s bowling has been relatively consistent, with Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora delivering commendable performances, the batting unit needs to significantly improve.
Vaibhav Arora, reflecting on the washed-out match, acknowledged the batting woes. “We’re bowling alright, but we’re lacking with the bat,” Arora admitted. “We need to win the remaining games and hope we can qualify.” KKR’s remaining fixtures present a challenging road ahead, with matches against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With the playoff race intensifying, KKR must heed Kumble’s advice and make bold decisions to salvage their campaign.
The team’s fate hangs in the balance, and the strategic deployment of Venkatesh Iyer could be the catalyst that propels them back into contention.
