KKR started decently with three wins from the first four matches, but then calamity struck as the team lost five games on the bounce. And just when it seemed they had managed to get their campaign back on track with a win against the fancied Rajasthan Royals, KKR are back to their losing ways.

On Saturday, the Knight Riders received a comprehensive 75-run thumping at the hands of Lucknow Super Giants. Chasing 177 to win, KKR folded up for a paltry 101 in Pune. Andre Russell (45 off 19b; 3×4, 5×6) and Sunil Narine (22 off 12b; 3×4, 1×6) provided some fireworks, but the Lucknow pace attack was too strong for Kolkata. Avesh Khan (3/19) and Jason Holder (3/31) shared six wickets between them.Earlier, when Lucknow openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock walked out to take guard against the KKR bowlers, all eyes were on the LSG skipper. After all, Rahul had scored 451 runs in the tournament and was chasing Jos Buttler for the Orange Cap. The motley crowd at the MCA International Stadium was hopeful Rahul would add to the two centuries he had scored in the 2022 IPL.

At one point, it seemed the LSG innings wouldn’t cross the 150-run mark. But, Marcus Stoinis (28 off 14b; 1×4, 3×6) and Jason Holder (13 off 4b; 2×6) hit some lusty blows towards the end to propel the score to 176/7. The 19th over bowled by Shivam Mavi almost saw six sixes being hit. The first three balls were sent beyond the boundary ropes by Stoinis before he was dismissed off the fourth delivery. Holder, however, made sure the fifth and sixth also went for the maximum as Lucknow took full toll and collected 30 runs from the over.