We haven't clicked as a group, lot of areas to get better at - Rathore

Kolkata Knight Riders edged out Rajasthan Royals in a nail-biting finish at Eden Gardens, clinching a dramatic one-run victory that sparked jubilation among the hosts. With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, KKR's Varun Chakaravarthy emphasized the morale boost such tight wins bring: “These are the kind of moments that give us belief. We’re feeling good going into the next three games.” For Rajasthan Royals, the defeat marked yet another missed opportunity in a season filled with near-misses. Previously falling short in tight contests against Delhi, Lucknow, and Bengaluru, this latest loss continued the trend of failing to close out games. “This is the fourth match we’ve had in the bag but let it slip,” said batting coach Vikram Rathour, pointing to a recurring theme this season. Stand-in skipper Riyan Parag nearly turned the tide with a blistering 95 off 45 balls—including five sixes in a single Moeen Ali over—but his dismissal in the 18th over gave KKR the opening they needed. Though Shubham Dubey tried to rally late, 22 runs from the final over proved too steep. Rathour was candid about the team’s struggles: “The pieces are there. The form is there. But collectively, it's not clicking. Fielding hasn’t helped either, and we’ve lacked the consistency to close games as a unit.” Reflecting on the season’s decisions, Rathour addressed the choice not to retain Jos Buttler, instead backing Shimron Hetmyer—who has underperformed. “I wouldn’t call it a mistake,” he said. “Hetmyer is a proven finisher. He’s just had a tough season. Great players have off years, and we believe he'll bounce back strong.” Despite setbacks, Rathour remains optimistic: “The talent is there. With better cohesion, we’ll be a team to watch in the seasons ahead.”