Kamal Ghorui
Finn Allen delivered a career-defining maiden IPL century to power Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, and after the match he opened up on the mindset shift behind his explosive turnaround. Allen smashed an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls, reaching his ton with a towering tenth six as KKR chased down 143 with 34 balls to spare at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Speaking after being named Player of the Match, the New Zealand batter reflected on how he has tried to evolve his game after a tough start to the season. “(This is almost Finn Allen 2.0?) Oh, I think, you know, what I’ve been working on is trying to have more strings to my bow,” Allen said. He admitted that early setbacks forced him to take a more responsible approach when KKR lost quick wickets during the chase. “We obviously lost a couple of early wickets, so I just tried to have a bit of responsibility and get a win on the board for the boys,” he added. Allen explained that he had to consciously shift gears during the innings, especially against quality spin bowling. “It was still a little bit challenging at the start, Axar bowled really well and restricted us. So I just tried to get into strong positions and bat deep,” he said. Despite being known for his aggressive six-hitting, Allen stressed that adaptability has become a key part of his batting evolution. “If it’s not easy, stay in there… I think that’s the model I’ve been trying to do with my batting,” he noted. Allen credited his work with coaches Shane Watson and Abhishek Nayar for helping him develop a more complete approach. He also revealed that earlier frustrations in the tournament stemmed from failing to convert starts. “I feel like I’ve got a few starts and it’s been pretty frustrating, but here nice to have a bit of personal success,” Allen said. The Kiwi batter also spoke about pacing his innings in high-pressure chases. “When the situation comes, you just forget about my batting and play the situation. If I stay out there for a long period, I try to bat 40 balls,” he explained. Allen added that time out of the playing XI earlier in the season helped reset his mindset. “Sometimes it changes your perspective. You go out of the team, have a bit of a mental refresh. I was putting too much pressure on myself at the start,” he said. That reset, combined with improved clarity, has now translated into one of the most destructive innings of IPL 2026 and a timely resurgence for KKR in the playoff race.
