KKR has to blame itself, says Aaron Finch

Finch was all praise for Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer.

Hyderabad: JioStar expert Aaron Finch said that the big-hitting all-rounder Andre Russell was batting too far down the order and it didn’t start well for Kolkata Knight Riders which was knocked out of the IPL after the game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru was washed out on Saturday night in Bengaluru.

“Russell simply wasn’t given the opportunities to influence games the way he can. They’ve only got themselves to blame. They almost kicked themselves after that last game against CSK – it was theirs to win,” the former Australian captain said.

“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 said.

Finch was all praise for Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer. “He’s been fantastic – just as he was at KKR. Shreyas 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,” he said.

“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,” Finch said.

Another JioStar expert Sanjay Manjrekar said the love that the fans have for Virat Kohli, it’s something special.

“This was an IPL night match, and fans came dressed in whites to commemorate a moment in Indian cricket history. That’s a beautiful gesture. For five years, he made Test cricket watchable and more popular,” he said of fans sporting ‘whites’ as a tribute to Kohli during the washed-out match.

“We often say no player is bigger than the game, but during a time when Test cricket was struggling to engage fans, Virat gave it the attention it desperately needed. He’s still playing in the IPL, but he always had the desire to keep Test cricket alive. As a captain, I’ve never seen an Indian Test skipper who managed to keep the intensity so high, even when the team wasn’t doing well or when things were drifting. That’s a legacy in itself,” Manjrekar said.

Former India batting coach and JioStar expert Sanjay Bangar said it was a sad day for him personally when Kohli announced retirement from Test cricket.

“Kohli was a giant of his era. I tried to reason with him – there were still a few good years of Test cricket left in him. But he had made up his mind. He was convinced about the timing, and once he made that decision, there was no going back,” Bangar said.

“We must respect that. In our country, letting go is not always appreciated, but Virat chose the right moment. He retired when people were still asking ‘why now?’ – and that’s often the hallmark of a great sportsman,” he said.