Dwayne Bravo backs Andre Russell, blames Ajinkya Rahane and top order for KKR's IPL 2025 struggles

Kolkata Knight Riders' (KKR) mentor Dwayne Bravo raised his concern over the team's top order after the heavy loss against Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025. The former West Indies all-rounder defended Andre Russell, who faced criticism for not scoring consistently, and added that he is not the only one struggling.

KKR suffered a 39-run defeat to Gujarat Titans in Match 39 of IPL 2025 on Monday, April 21. Chasing 199, the hosts managed to score 159/8 in 20 overs. Andre Russell could only manage 21 off 15 balls — his second double-digit score this season. The defending champions are now on the verge of elimination.

Andre Russell Isn't the Only One Struggling - Dwayne Bravo

Speaking after the match, Dwayne Bravo opened up about Andre Russell's poor form. Bravo added that he is not the only one facing difficulties with the bat at KKR. He stated that leg-spinners have gotten Russell out in a few games.

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"Andre Russell is an experienced and successful player. Yes, in a couple of games, the leg-spinners got him out. But I don't think we are batting well as a team. That is the reality. Russell is not the only one struggling. As a group, we have to ensure players are backed. We need to keep preparing well. IPL is a tough tournament. If you don't start well, batters can go into a period where they lose confidence," said Dwayne Bravo.

Work Needs to Be Done at the Top to Give Him a Chance - Dwayne Bravo

Dwayne Bravo said that KKR's top-order batters need to take more responsibility, as their failure puts pressure on finishers like Andre Russell and Rinku Singh. He pointed out that when Russell comes in to bat, the required run rate is very high.

"Not every team has leg-spinners and today he was up against a quality spinner like Rashid Khan. When Russell walks in to bat, every time the run rate is at 14 or 15 runs per over," he said.

"Work needs to be done at the top to give him a chance to finish off games like he has been doing all these years for KKR. Yes, leg-spinners got him out a few times, but I don't think that is a big concern. We just need to bat better (at the top) to allow our finishers the chance to finish games," Bravo added.

Kolkata Knight Riders' Batters Fail to Deliver in Recent Match

Kolkata Knight Riders opted to field first after winning the toss. The Shubman Gill-led team posted a total of 198/3. Shubman Gill scored 90 runs off 55 balls, while Sai Sudharsan (52 off 36) and Jos Buttler (41* off 23) chipped in with crucial contributions. KKR bowlers failed to make an impact with the ball.

In response, Ajinkya Rahane (50 off 36) scored a half-century, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (27* off 13) played a cameo at the end. KKR have secured three wins from eight games, with six points and a net run rate (NRR) of +0.212. To reach the playoffs, they must win five of their remaining six matches.

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