Moeen Ali feels that KKR can still make it to the playoffs of IPL 2025 and wants the team to adopt the same mindset that MI has shown in the past few weeks. After a slow start to their campaign, Mumbai are now on a 4-match winning streak that has seen them climb into the top four. KKR, on the other hand, have had a hot and cold season and lost their last two games. However, the all-rounder Moeen Ali said that it will take a lot of determination and belief from the team to get the job done and go on a winning run.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will lock horns against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 44th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, on Saturday, April 26th.
KKR are currently enjoying the topsy turvy ride in IPL 2025
The defending champions started the IPL 2025 on a poor note. KKR won just three matches and conceded five defeats in their eight fixtures as of now. The Knights hold seventh place with six points and have a net run rate of +0.212. In their previous five fixtures, KKR conceded three defeats. From now onwards, the Knight Riders need to win the rest of their 6 matches of the season to qualify for the IPL 2025 playoffs.
On the other hand, Punjab Kings stand in the fifth place on IPL 2025 standings with 10 points and have a net run rate of +0.177. Shreyas Iyer-led side clinched five wins and suffered three defeats in the ongoing season so far.
Mumbai Indians had a poor start to the 18th season of the cash-rich tournament. However, the Hardik Pandya-led side made a solid turnaround in their performance. MI now hold the fourth place on the IPL 2025 standings with 10 points and have a net run rate of +0.673. In their previous five fixtures, Mumbai have clinched four consecutive wins and conceded just one defeat.
Despite Kolkata Knight Riders managing just three wins in their first eight matches, spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali remains optimistic. He believes the defending champions have the quality and depth needed to turn things around and secure a spot in the IPL 2025 playoffs.
Moeen Ali positively believes that KKR can still make it to the IPL 2025 Playoffs
Kolkata Knight Riders may be struggling at the moment with just three wins in eight matches, but spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali believes the defending champions have what it takes to make a turnaround and make the playoffs of IPL 2025. KKR’s much-hyped batting line-up has failed to live up to expectations as the team slipped to seventh position in the standings. With six games left, they must win at least five to stand a chance of making the playoffs.
“Yes definitely (we can make playoffs). If you look at history, even Mumbai had a bad start and now they’ve won four in a row and they’re flying. We need to have that same mindset. We’re halfway through, we have to win most of our games,” Moeen Ali said on the eve of their clash against Punjab Kings here.
“This squad has shown it can go on a run. But it’s going to take a lot of determination and belief to do that.”
KKR’s batting failures have hurt the team with Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Ramandeep Singh struggling to finish games.
In their last match against PBKS in Mullanpur, they were cruising at 62/2 in a 112-run chase but collapsed, losing eight wickets for just 33 runs.
Before that, chasing 239 against Lucknow Super Giants, KKR fell just four runs short after a dramatic collapse from a strong position.
“It was not so long ago where we almost chased 240, so we did play well in between. It’s about having the mindset where you kind of fool yourself into thinking you’re playing well and just go all out,” Moeen Ali said.
“Because the way we batted in the last two games, we’re not going to win many. We need to go out there, express ourselves, and just have a bit more fun. Sometimes from the outside, it seems the pressure is too much on players, but it’s about taking that off and showing your skills.”
Moeen Ali has played 4 matches so far in the campaign and has been in and out of the squad mostly. However, the all-rounder, who retired from international cricket, doesn’t feel he has any difficulty adjusting to it.
“To be honest, if you look at where I’m at in my career, it’s not as difficult as if I was younger and a bit more, playing like international cricket and things like that, then it would be a lot harder.”
“But now at my age, it depends on my own mindset. So my mindset is to come and whenever the game requires or the team requires me to play, to be ready and I prepare like I’m playing every game, and then I get told if I’m playing or not. 5–10 years ago it would have been difficult, but now it’s not so difficult,” said Moeen Ali.
Moeen Ali also said that before he came for the IPL 2025 season, he thought his role with the team would be limited.
“You just crack on and do what the team needs. The reality is when I came here, before I came here, I didn’t think I was going to play too many games anyway, um, so I’ve managed to play 4 so far, so it’s still, from my point, it’s good that I’ve played the 4 games,” said Moeen Ali.
KKR will take on PBKS on April 26 at the Eden Gardens.
Also Read: KKR vs PBKS: Shreyas Iyer’s Homecoming Ignites Eden Gardens Showdown