KKR have found a way to lose the match: Nannes

Kolkata Knight Riders are trying every combination and strategy they have, but have ended up losing matches somehow. In their latest game against table-toppers Gujarat Titans, they missed out on a chance to break their three-game losing streak when they needed 29 runs from 12 balls. 

With 29 runs needed off the final two overs, pacer Yash Dayal gave away 11 runs before Andre Russell hit Alzarri Joseph's first ball of the final for a six. The Jamaican then launched him to deep square leg where Lockie Ferguson took a fantastic catch to settle the tie in Gujarat's favor. 

Despite chasing modest total of 157, KKR's batting fell short by eight runs. Former Australian pacer Dirk Nannes felt that Shreyas Iyer's men are finding ways to lose matches.

"They are struggling. Finch had to go out after his fifty, but things had to change. Pat Cummins was going around 12 runs per over. Yes, Southee came in and was lucky to get a wicket and bowled well after that. That is the life of a team that is losing and can't find their way, and you start chopping and changing. You find ways to lose, and that is another thing they did tonight. They found a way to somewhat lose from a winning position," Nannes said in Cricket.com's match review.

Nannes felt that one change KKR will need is to promote Nitish Rana to the opening position as the Sunil Narine experiment hasn't worked so far. Rana has scored 143 runs from eight matches at a strike rate of 136.2.

"Sunil Narine was averaging five coming into this game, and he scored another five so that experiment is not working. I think Nitish Rana should be up there and back people at their best position and get him up the order, but you are again bringing another change which unsettles the team," he said.

Nannes felt the Tim Southee needs to be given more chances instead of persisting with Pat Cummins for more than three matches.

"I think they can certainly keep Pat Cummins out for a while because he had a great fifty,. Apart from that, with the ball, he has not performed. I think he will get a run for a period of three games, and if he has not taken a wicket, then you really look at him, but certainly, for now, he keeps his spot," Nannes said.

Nannes also felt that bowlers were not targeting the wide tramline during the death to keep Russell quiet.

"I am still unsure why the teams do not bowl super wide to him, particularly when you know he is setting up deep in his crease. Every time he goes deep in his crease and puts his front leg out of his way, it is impossible for him to reach the line outside off. I think people are surely missing a trick by not bowling super wide to him," he said.

Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya returned to the playing XI for the game and was once again the top scorer for his side with 67 off 49 balls. The allrounder has scored three fifties which have all come in difficult situations when his team has lost key wickets at the top.

"He has changed his tempo and settled into the role, and the way he comes out almost stamps his authority on the game and dominates straight away as soon as he comes in. He comes in at a time when the scoreboard is not ticking over, and they have not succeeded at the top of the order," Nannes said of Pandya who has scored 295 runs from six matches so far.