Kamal Ghorui
Finn Allen’s aggressive batting has played a major role in KKR’s recent turnaround. The New Zealand batter started slowly this season but looked completely different in the last game, smashing an unbeaten 47-ball century against Delhi Capitals. It was also the first time this season that Allen faced more than 20 deliveries in an IPL innings, and once he settled, the scoring rate became difficult to control.
Since 2024, Allen has struck at 218.33 after facing more than 20 balls in T20 cricket, the highest strike rate for any batter in that phase. That stat underlines how dangerous he becomes once he gets through the initial overs. But RCB have reasons to feel confident too. Josh Hazlewood has dismissed Allen twice in three innings previously, making this a key contest tonight. RCB’s bowling unit, especially Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hazlewood, has often delivered with the new ball. If they can remove Allen early, KKR’s batting order may once again face pressure. But if Allen survives the opening spell, he has shown recently that he can take games away very quickly.
