KKR coach Watson targets Kohli’s aggression in pivotal IPL 2026 clash
Assistant coach Shane Watson acknowledges the difficulty of containing Virat Kohli but hopes the RCB batter’s recent streak of ducks leads to a repeat of an aggressive error against Deepak Chahar.
Kolkata Knight Riders assistant coach Shane Watson has indicated that his side is hoping for an early aggressive error from Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Virat Kohli in their upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 fixture. The match, scheduled for Wednesday, 13 May 2026, is viewed as a critical juncture for KKR’s playoff aspirations, with the team currently sitting on nine points from 10 games.
Watson acknowledged Kohli’s status as a significant obstacle for Kolkata, noting that the batter has struck three half-centuries in his last four games against the franchise. Despite this recent success against KKR, Kohli enters the contest following back-to-back ducks in his previous matches against the Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians. The veteran batter has accumulated 379 runs in 11 matches this season, maintaining an average of 42.11 and a strike rate of 163.36.
During the pre-match press conference, Watson highlighted a specific tactical hope regarding Kohli’s dismissal against Mumbai Indians. In that instance, Kohli charged at bowler Deepak Chahar early in his innings and mistimed a lofted shot to mid-off. Watson stated that the team is hoping for a similar aggressive shot at the start of the innings, although he admitted that the chances of such a misstep are remote given Kohli’s ability to navigate bowling plans.
The former Australia all-rounder praised Kohli’s intensity, describing his insatiable appetite to be the best as a constant threat. Watson emphasised that KKR must be precise from the first ball to prevent Kohli from setting a quick platform for his team. He noted that while every team has plans to exploit perceived weaknesses, Kohli is adept at countering those strategies, making any early error a rare occurrence.
KKR’s position in the tournament has improved significantly after a poor start to the season. The side failed to win any of their opening six matches but has since secured four consecutive victories. With the points table described as tightly packed, Watson stressed that the team cannot afford another slip-up in their bid to maintain qualification hopes.
In other league action, Gujarat Titans defeated Punjab Kings in a separate fixture. Punjab Kings posted 163/9, with Suryansh Shedge scoring 57 runs off 29 balls. Gujarat Titans successfully chased the target despite losing captain Shubman Gill early in their innings, winning the match after winning the toss and electing to field.
