IPL 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders batter Manish Pandey said the team remained focused on training and preparations even during the IPL’s suspension due to the India-Pakistan military conflict, confident the league would resume. He believes the unexpected break might actually help the team regain its form.
KKR Gears Up for Must-Win Clash Against RCB Amid Playoff Push
Kolkata Knight Riders will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a must-win encounter in Bengaluru on Saturday, as they look to keep their IPL 2025 Playoffs hopes alive.
Speaking ahead of the high-stakes match, KKR batter Manish Pandey said the team stayed focused during the mid-tournament pause caused by the India-Pakistan military conflict, anticipating the league’s return.
“The break didn’t really change much for us because, as professional cricketers, we know what needs to be done,” Pandey said at the pre-match press conference on Friday. “We were confident the tournament would resume, though the timing was uncertain. Thankfully, the break wasn’t too long.”
He added that the team remained committed to training throughout the hiatus. “We kept working in the gym and on our game. The whole squad is together, everyone’s ready, and we’re looking forward to putting on a great performance,” Pandey said.
KKR Gears Up for Must-Win Clash Against RCB Amid Playoff Push
Kolkata Knight Riders will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a must-win encounter in Bengaluru on Saturday, as they look to keep their IPL 2025 Playoffs hopes alive. A loss would effectively end KKR’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage, but senior batter Manish Pandey insisted the team isn’t letting pressure get to them.
“Nothing much to lose from here,” Pandey said at the pre-match press conference on Friday. “We just felt the tournament could have gone better for us as a team. We lost a few key games in the middle, and now, looking back, you wish you’d won those. But we still have two matches left, and everyone is eager to step up and perform.”
While KKR boasts a strong squad on paper, inconsistency has plagued its campaign this season. Pandey pointed to the team’s failure to build momentum through consecutive wins—something it managed effectively last year.
“We haven’t been able to string together wins like we did in the previous season, and that has hurt our chances,” he admitted.
Despite the challenges, Pandey remains optimistic, emphasizing the team’s readiness and focus after the mid-season break caused by the India-Pakistan military conflict.
“The break didn’t really change much for us because, as professional cricketers, we know what needs to be done,” he said. “We were confident the tournament would resume, though the timing was uncertain. Thankfully, the break wasn’t too long.”
“We kept working in the gym and on our game. The whole squad is together, everyone’s ready, and we’re looking forward to putting on a great performance,” he added.
Reflecting on KKR’s inconsistent IPL 2025 campaign, Manish Pandey highlighted the team’s struggle to build momentum compared to last season.
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“Last year, we were consistently winning matches, which is crucial in a tournament like the IPL,” he said. “This time, it’s been a stop-start kind of season—we’d win one, then lose the next. That pattern continued throughout the tournament.”
Pandey noted that while both the batting and bowling departments had their moments, the team lacked sustained performances.
“Our batting has been decent, and the bowling has shown promise too. But overall, it’s been a bit of a patchy year in both departments,” he admitted. “Hopefully, we can retain a strong core group for next season and get back to the kind of winning run we had last year.”
Looking ahead to the final stretch of the league phase, Pandey believes the unscheduled mid-tournament break might serve as a blessing in disguise.
“A break like this can definitely help,” he said. “I’m sure the players took the time to reflect, review footage, and work on areas they couldn’t focus on earlier. It should serve us well.”
“The only thing I’m hoping for now is that we win the last two games and finish the season on a positive note,” he added.
