IPL 2025: 5 Things that went wrong with defending champions KKR this season
Kolkata Knight Riders failed to qualify for the playoffs in the IPL 2025 despite being the defending champions.
5. Underutilization of Andre Russell
Andre Russell in the IPL 2024 was quite incredible. Despite the presence of the Impact Player rule, he was given chances and played as a proper all-rounder, contributing both as a batter and a bowler. KKR virtually played with 13 players every match, as Russell was also one of their proper bowlers. In 2025, it has not been the case, as he has not been asked to bowl enough overs.
Russell single-handedly won matches for KKR with just the ball in the IPL 2024. He claimed 19 wickets in 14 innings at an average of just 15.52 and a terrific strike rate of 9.2 in 29.2 overs. He was the fourth-highest wicket-taker and was among the top death bowlers of the season. In 2025, Russell has bowled just 16.1 overs in eight innings, taking same number of wickets at an average of 22.87, in what has been a visible reduction in workload.
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