KKR bowlers thrashed Punjab’s batting order and almost won the game for the side after the first inning. Punjab Kings only managed to put a total of 123 in front of KKR as they were invited to bat first. KKR struggled a bit to start the innings but it was like bread and butter for KKR in the end. While KKR left their 4 games losing streak behind, here are 3 reasons why Punjab Kings lost the game.

1. Failure of Middle-order

Punjab’s middle order was exposed again in front of KKR bowlers. If we count the number of runs contributed by number four to seven then it’s only 35. It was Chris Jordan who managed to play a cameo in the end and scored 30 of 18 balls. Punjab batting orders are too much dependent on the top 3. In the middle orders, only Shahrukh Khan has scored few runs in the tournament till now.

2. Bowling changes

It will all clear that to win Punjab needed wickets, there are no other ways you can defend a total of 123. Moises Henriques took a wicket on the very first over of the innings and gave Punjab the hope and the start they needed. But he was never called to bowl again. The wicket favored the slower ones, but instead, Rahul went for the spinners. It will surely take some time to understand the decision made in the bowling changes.

3. Fail to utilize a good start

Both in the batting and bowling department, Punjab’s start was decent in fact, the bowling start was as they would have thought so. But in both the department they failed to utilize the situation. In batting, after getting a good start they kept on throwing wickets. KKR learned from it and tried to build a partnership instead of going for big runs. The bowling rotation was a total failure as they could have picked some more wickets earlier. Kolkata was on the back foot as they were 17-3.

Let’s wish that Punjab Kings don’t repeat the same mistakes and get back on the wicket track.