IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders CEO urges struggling team to take inspiration from 2014 season

Kolkata Knight Riders CEO Venky Mysore has expressed confidence in his team despite their poor performance in the current IPL season, citing past examples of remarkable turnarounds in 2014 and 2021. The defending champions face a challenging situation after suffering their fifth defeat in eight matches against Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens on Sunday, needing to win at least five of their remaining six matches to maintain playoff hopes.
KKR currently have six points and are struggling to maintain their position in the tournament. The team's recent loss by 39 runs to Gujarat Titans has put them in a difficult position to qualify for the playoffs.
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"This is a very resilient team, the Knight Riders. This is our 18th season, we've always been in top-three," Mysore said during a promotional event.
Mysore recalled the team's previous successful campaigns, highlighting their resilience and ability to bounce back from challenging situations.

"In 2014, at the halfway stage we won only two and lost five, but you know what happened in 2014, we set an IPL record and won nine games on the trot and won the IPL. After that we played the Champions League, and we won five in a row. So there's a record of 14 wins in a row. That was not a flash in the pan. In 2021, we again had two wins and five losses, we went on to play the final."
"Sometimes you get caught up with the IPL, we see the table, wins and losses... then you put things in perspective -- there's a life way beyond table, wins and losses -- and you can draw inspiration from anywhere. The kind of experience we have, certainly something can spark."

The team has recently welcomed back former assistant coach Abhishek Nayar, who had briefly left to join as India's assistant coach. His return comes at a crucial time as the team's batting lineup faces challenges.
The batting performance has been inconsistent, with only captain Ajinkya Rahane showing steady form, though unable to secure victories for the team.
Rahane welcomed Nayar's return to the team setup, emphasising his importance to the squad.

"It's good to have Abhishek back in the setup. He's been an important member of the side. As players, for me, we all are really happy to see him back. He's really passionate, he knows each and every player. His role in this team is really important so we all are really happy," Rahane said.
"Anything can happen in this format. There's still plenty of games left and it's a matter of somebody showing that inspiration to get us across the line. The inspiration can come from anywhere," Mysore added, expressing hope for the team's future performances.