Powerplay Promise, Middle-Overs Collapse: KKR’s Familiar Story

Almost exactly a decade ago at the Wankhede Stadium, Ajinkya Rahane scored 40 off 35 balls in a T20 World Cup semi-final, hitting two fours and no sixes. India posted 192 for two wickets. West Indies romped home by seven wickets, hitting 11 sixes to India’s four.

On Sunday at the same venue, Rahane batted very differently against Mumbai Indians, showing the effects of his three-year transformation to remain relevant in modern T20 cricket. He’s so relevant that he captains Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026 while contemporaries such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have passed that baton to younger players.

The Tale of Two Halves

Rahane hit three sixes in his first nine deliveries, reaching 36 off 18 balls by the end of the powerplay. Two runs per ball—a transformed Rahane from the player of 2016.

The T20 contest of 2026, particularly at venues like the Wankhede where India and England slugged it out in a 253-meets-246 World Cup semi-final three weeks ago, demands relentless acceleration.

In 2026, two runs per ball in the powerplay is very good, but it’s a job only half done. If you’re still at the crease at the six-over mark, you need to keep going at the same pace—because the opposition batters can do it too, especially when chasing with dew assistance.

Rahane followed up 36 off 18 with 31 off 22 balls when the field spread. KKR lost significant momentum, particularly during his partnership with Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

The Momentum Killer

They put on 36 off 28 balls for the third wicket. By the time their stand ended in the 14th over, KKR’s run rate had dropped from 13 at the powerplay’s end to below 11.

After posting 220 and losing with five balls to spare, KKR would look back at this middle-overs period as a phase that cost them heavily.

This wouldn’t be a major issue if it was a one-off, particularly in their first match. But KKR are coming off being the tournament’s worst-performing middle-overs (7-16) team in IPL 2025.

A Persistent Problem

KKR had the worst run rate (7.96) and average (20.52) of any team in the middle overs during IPL 2025.

They lost wickets frequently and didn’t score quickly even when they didn’t. Of 29 batting pairs who put on 200-plus runs in IPL 2025, Rahane and Raghuvanshi had the fifth-worst scoring rate (9.02).

Sunday must have felt like deja vu. The 2024 title, won with seldom-seen power and depth, must have felt like it happened two decades and not two years ago.

The Loss of Firepower

Since their 2024 title, KKR have lost Phil Salt, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer and Andre Russell—along with the flexibility that defined the championship line-up.

Their current overseas options can only field three per match. Against MI, with Green unable to bowl, KKR could pick just two.

Depth Issues

With Narine not opening and Green unable to bowl due to workload management, KKR could only pick two overseas batters. The Indian batters had to do heavy lifting, and despite 220, they seemed under-powered.

Rahane’s reinvention is creditable, but it doesn’t speak well of KKR’s squad that he’s captain. Raghuvanshi hasn’t yet cracked the tempo required.

Rinku Singh is an elite end-overs hitter against pace but a hyperspecialist due to weaknesses against spin. Teams are reluctant to send him in early.

The Unanswered Question

This KKR line-up has a clear middle-overs weakness that dogged them through IPL 2025.

The 2024 championship team had depth to absorb pressure and firepower to accelerate. Salt’s starts gave platforms. Shreyas and Venkatesh Iyer provided middle-overs stability. Russell finished.

Now, they’re reliant on Rahane—a 38-year-old who has reinvented himself but isn’t a natural T20 dasher—and Raghuvanshi, still finding his way. Overseas options are limited by combinations and workload management.

At high-scoring venues like the Wankhede, the mathematics are unforgiving. A powerplay rate of 13 is excellent. Dropping to below 11 through the middle overs gives the opposition a clear path to victory, especially with dew.

KKR’s opener suggested they haven’t solved the 2025 riddle. They posted 220—competitive. But 36 runs off 28 balls in the middle overs left them short.

The question: how do they score quicker in overs 7-16 without losing wickets? Their 2025 statistics showed they struggled with both. Their first 2026 match showed the same.

With a long season ahead, KKR need answers. Otherwise, IPL 2024 feels increasingly distant.

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