Finn Allen He scored his first career IPL century to lead Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, and after the match he opened up about the change in mindset behind his explosive turnaround. Allen scored an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls, reaching his ton with a towering tenth six as KKR chased down 143 off 34 balls at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Speaking after being named player of the match, the New Zealand batsman reflected on how he has looked to improve his game after a difficult start to the season. “(It’s almost Finn Allen 2.0?) Oh, I think, you know, what I’m working on is trying to put more strings to my bow,” Allen said. He admitted that early jitters forced him to take a more responsible approach when KKR lost wickets at a rapid rate during the chase. “We obviously lost the first two wickets, so I just tried to take a bit of responsibility and get the win on the board for the boys,” he added. Allen explained that he had to consciously change gears during the innings, especially against quality spin bowling. “It was still a bit challenging in the beginning, Axar bowled really well and restricted us. So I just tried to get into a strong position and bat deep,” he said. Despite being known for his aggressive sixes, Allan insists that adaptation has been an important part of his batting evolution. “If it’s not easy, stay there… I think that’s the model I’m trying to do with my batting,” he noted. Allen credits the coaches for his work. Shane Watson And Abhishek Nair To help him develop a more complete approach. He also revealed that the disappointment earlier in the tournament stemmed from failing to convert starts. “I think I’ve had a few starts and it’s been pretty disappointing, but it’s nice to get a little bit of personal success here,” Allen said. The Kiwi batsman also talked about getting his innings going in pursuit of high pressure. “When the situation comes, you forget my batting and play the situation,” he explained. If I am out there for a long time, I try to bat 40 balls. Allen added that being out of the playing XI earlier in the season helped reset his mindset. “Sometimes it changes your perspective,” he said. You walk out of the team, get some mental refreshment. I was putting too much pressure on myself in the beginning. This reset, coupled with improved clarity, has now translated into one of the most devastating innings of IPL 2026 and a timely revival for KKR in the playoff race.
