IPL 2021: 3 things KKR can do to script a miraculous comeback

#2 Addressing top-order issues

Rana and Gill have failed to get going early on, which has hurt the team badly

Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill did start the season quite well with consecutive half-century partnerships alongside twin fifties for Rana himself as well. But after those knocks, the southpaw has fallen apart with scores of 18, 9, 22, 0 and 15. While Gill also got starts on a couple of occasions, he has so far failed to muster a substantial score. Rahul Tripathi, on the other hand, blows hot and cold, which means the team cannot rely on him to lead their innings, just yet.

KKR coach Brendon McCullum didn't hold back in calling his team out for their lack of aggression after Prithvi Shaw demolished KKR's bowling attack with a half-century off just 18 balls. In the very same match, the top three of Nitish Rana, Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi combined to score 77 runs off 67 balls, failing to take advantage of the new ball and field restrictions, something which Shaw did to perfection. McCullum said after the game:

"It's very, very disappointing. I think as a player you ask to be given freedom and confidence and loyalty when it comes to selection to go out there and take the game on and be aggressive. And to try and make things happen for your team. And that's the style of play which both myself and the captain have asked of our players. And unfortunately, we're not quite getting there yet and definitely not getting it in the abundance we need."

This definitely calls for a slight reshuffle at the top, with Tripathi resuming his duties as an opener. Gill hasn't been able to get going, and pushing him back a spot could work wonders for him in terms of settling into the innings in the middle overs. Tripathi has played some good cricket whenever an early wicket has fallen in the powerplay this season. He can play the aggressor's role, allowing Rana to settle into his innings - which he hasn't been able to do because of Gill's sluggishness.

Shubman Gill has to find ways of scoring runs in the Powerplay. Think he puts too much pressure onto himself.

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) April 24, 2021

Gill at no.3 also provides KKR stability as he can effectively mitigate the overs leading up to the back end of the innings. If allowed to play his natural game, he can anchor the innings to perfection - a role no one has stepped up to perform this season.

If KKR do opt to rehaul their top-order - as McCullum suggested they might - it might also pave the way for exciting talents like Sheldon Jackson to make a mark.