Anil Kumble slams KKR’s tactics in IPL 2025, urges team to promote Andre Russell up the order

Former India captain Anil Kumble has criticized Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for their poor use of all-rounder Andre Russell in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. Kumble expressed disappointment over KKR’s decision to push Russell down the batting order, claiming the franchise has failed to maximize his impact in crucial moments.

Kumble questions KKR’s tactical decisions

Speaking during a media interaction as a JioStar expert, Kumble pulled no punches while evaluating KKR’s approach. He stressed that Russell should be given more opportunities to influence games and must be promoted higher in the batting lineup.

“I felt the utilisation of Andre Russell hasn’t been really great from a KKR standpoint,” said Kumble. “Russell should bat higher. He should certainly get more opportunities. Just look at the one they lost to Punjab. Ideally, you would say, ‘Okay, Russell, go finish this game early.’ If he gets out first ball, it doesn’t matter – you still have batters in hand.”

Kumble added that by the time Russell entered the fray in recent games, the match was already out of KKR’s reach. “In the last game, when Russell came in, the asking rate was already around 17-18 runs per over. It may work once in 20 games, but not consistently. KKR need to figure this out,” he added.

Russell’s underwhelming season continues

Andre Russell has had a below-par season so far, scoring just 45 runs from eight matches with the bat. His highest score remains 21. With the ball, he has taken six wickets, but his performances haven’t made the game-changing impact fans expect from the explosive all-rounder.

KKR, the defending champions, have won only three of their first eight games and now find themselves in the bottom half of the points table. The franchise must win at least five of their remaining matches to stay in contention for the playoffs.

KKR’s top order struggles put pressure on middle

Kumble also pointed to the failures of KKR’s top order as a contributing factor to their overall struggles this season. Last year, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine gave the team strong starts, laying the foundation for middle-order hitters like Russell. However, that form hasn’t been replicated in IPL 2025.

“I felt they haven’t really utilised their resources. Last season, the strong starts from Salt and Narine allowed the middle order to play freely. This year, that’s not happening. Venkatesh Iyer hasn’t fired, and although Ajinkya Rahane is playing well, there’s added pressure on the middle,” Kumble explained.

Bowling attack remains a silver lining

Despite their inconsistency, Kumble acknowledged that KKR’s bowling unit remains a strong asset. “They have two world-class spinners and Indian pacers like Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora, who have performed well. The bowling isn’t the issue—it’s the batting strategy that needs revision,” he said.

Must-win clash against Punjab Kings ahead

KKR will next face Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens in a must-win encounter. The last time these two sides met, KKR failed to chase a modest 112-run target, getting bowled out for 95 and losing by 16 runs. KKR will look to avenge that defeat and turn their campaign around.

As the pressure builds in the second half of the league stage, KKR’s think tank will be under the scanner. Whether they promote Russell or persist with their current strategy could determine their fate in the IPL 2025 playoff race.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, and Instagram