Aaron Finch opens hellfire for Ajinkya Rahane, KKR Team Management after IPL 2025 exit

Former Australia cricketer Aaron Finch has slammed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for their underwhelming performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Finch stated that the team had only themselves to blame, adding that KKR had several opportunities throughout the season.

KKR's campaign in the IPL 2025 ended on the day the tournament resumed after a nine-day halt caused by the India-Pakistan conflict. The defending champions were eliminated as the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) was washed out at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Saturday, May 17.

KKR Have Only Themselves to Blame - Aaron Finch

Speaking on JioHotstar, Aaron Finch pointed out that KKR's narrow loss against Chennai Super Kings was a turning point. Finch stated that KKR were in control but failed to close out the match.

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“They’ve only got themselves to blame. They almost kicked themselves after that last game against CSK – it was theirs to win,” Finch said while talking about KKR on JioHotstar.

"The match was almost wrapped up, and they still couldn’t cross the line, which turned out to be an incredible win for Chennai. Throughout the season, there were too many moments where KKR just didn’t click," he added.

Andre Russell Simply Wasn’t Given the Opportunities - Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch also criticized the team’s decision to send Andre Russell, known for his game-changing abilities, lower down the batting order. Finch said that Russell was not utilized properly and wasn’t given enough chances to make an impact.

“It didn’t start well for them. Andre Russell, being the match-winner that he is, and has been for such a long time, was batting too far down the order for much of the tournament. He simply wasn’t given the opportunities to influence games the way he can,” said Finch.

Kolkata Knight Riders didn’t retain IPL 2024 winning captain Shreyas Iyer ahead of the mega auction. They appointed Ajinkya Rahane as skipper to defend the IPL title.

Shreyas Iyer Has Been Fantastic - Aaron Finch

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings have been one of the top contenders for a playoff spot. Punjab’s fortunes seem to be improving under the leadership of their new captain, Shreyas Iyer. The Punjab team is in third place on the table with 15 points from 11 matches.

Aaron Finch lauded Shreyas Iyer for his leadership, calling him a terrific young leader. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Iyer has been outstanding both as a captain and a player for Punjab Kings.

“Shreyas has been fantastic – just as he was at KKR. He is a terrific young leader. Leaving a title-winning side would have hurt, but to carry forward that leadership success into a completely different setup shows his versatility. It’s a new team, a new coach, yet he’s adapted brilliantly. His batting, especially away from home, has been top-notch. Overall, he’s been excellent for the Kings – both as a leader and a player.”

Punjab Kings are set to resume their IPL 2025 campaign with a crucial match against Rajasthan Royals (RR). The day game will take place at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, May 18.

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