IPL 2022: Coach Brendon McCullum rues KKR's powerplay struggles

Kolkata Knight Riders were found wanting on more than one front, but head coach Brendon McCullum singled out their struggles in the powerplay, as the team's disappointing IPL campaign neared its end. Former champions KKR suffered their seventh defeat on Saturday night, a 75-run drubbing by Lucknow Super Giants here. "We struggled in the power play which has been a frustration for us throughout the season," McCullum said, adding that the team needs to find a way to be more aggressive without losing wickets in the first six overs. The Shreyas Iyer-led side now finds itself on the brink of elimination. "We've been good throughout the middle phase and not too bad at the death," McCullum said at the post-match press conference.

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Lucknow Super Giants surged to the top of Indian Premier League after thrashing Kolkata Knight Riders by 75 runs on Saturday. Kolkata capitulated to the season's second lowest score when they were bowled out for 101 by with more than five overs to spare, while chasing Lucknow's 176/7.

"But in the power play we've been a little stuck and we've to find a method to not lose many wickets and also throw a few punches and get a few boundaries," he reiterated. KKR have used several opening combinations this season but failed to find the one that clicks. Their openers have not been able to give kind of starts required for teams to win matches. "If you look around other teams at the top of the table, one of their opening batters is also one of their highest run-scorers. It's an area we haven't been able to settle. Unfortunately, some of the guys haven't been in the form that they would have liked to. "That happens,