Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Moeen Ali has called on his team to play with confidence and enjoy their game. KKR will face Punjab Kings (PBKS) in a crucial IPL 2025 match on Saturday at Eden Gardens.
KKR’s Batting Under Pressure
KKR have lost two matches in a row. One of those defeats came against PBKS, where their batting order collapsed. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Moeen said the team needs to shake off the pressure and play with more joy.
“We have to go out there and express ourselves as players and just have a bit more fun,” Moeen said. “I think sometimes from the outside you can see that the pressure is a lot on players generally, but it’s just about taking that pressure off, enjoying yourself and showing your skills.”
Belief in the Batting Line-up
Despite their recent struggles, Moeen said KKR still have one of the strongest batting units in the tournament. He pointed to the variety in the team — from hard-hitting players to classical batters.
“Our real strength is obviously that we have guys who can go and play shots, almost ultra-aggressive in someone like Sunil Narine, but then you also have Ajinkya, who is a more classical type of player who plays beautiful shots and is in red-hot form,” he explained.
Staying Positive About Playoffs
Moeen also remains hopeful about KKR’s playoff chances. He gave the example of Mumbai Indians, who started slowly but recovered well with a winning streak.
“If you look at history, even if you look at Mumbai for example, they had a bit of a bad start, now they’ve won I think four in a row, five in a row, and they’re flying,” he said.
Facing PBKS Again a Mental Challenge
In their last meeting, PBKS spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took four wickets and caused major damage. Moeen admitted that the memory of that collapse still lingers.
“You never forget, obviously it is very difficult to forget,” he said. “But this tournament is such where you will have a couple of bad games in between and real tests, and tomorrow is going to be a real test,” he added.
A Different Approach to Chahal
Finally, Moeen said KKR batters need a fresh mindset while facing Chahal again. He urged them to stay confident and not let fear take over.
“There are two ways to go. You either think that he is going to destroy you again or you take him on a bit more and be confident. So hopefully, we will do the latter.”
