“I put too much pressure on myself” – Finn Allen on mental reset

find alan After scoring a career-defining first IPL century to help Kolkata Knight Riders beat Delhi Capitals by eight wickets, he opened up about the change in mindset behind his explosive transformation post-match. Allen hit an unbeaten 100 off 47 balls and reached his peak with the sixth ball of 10th while KKR chased down 143 off 34 balls at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

The New Zealand batsman spoke after being named man of the match, recalling how he has worked hard to improve his game after a difficult start to the season. “(Is this almost Finn Allen 2.0?) Oh, I think, you know, I’ve been trying to get more strings in my bow,” Allen said. He admitted that early setbacks forced him to adopt a more responsible approach when KKR lost quick wickets in the chase. “We obviously lost some early wickets so I just tried to take some responsibility and get the win for the boys,” he added. Allen explained that he has to consciously change his strategy during the innings, especially against quality spin bowling. “It was a bit challenging in the beginning and Axar bowled really well and restricted us. So I just tried to get into good positions and bat deep,” he said. While Allen is known for his aggressive six-hitting, he stresses that adaptability has been a key part of his batting evolution. “If it’s not easy, just stay there…I think that’s the pattern of batting I’ve been trying to do,” he noted. Allen credits coaches for his job Shane Watson and Abhishek Nayar Help him develop a more complete approach. He also revealed that the frustration earlier in the game stemmed from not being able to get his first start. “I feel like I’ve got some starts, which is very frustrating, but it’s nice to have some personal success here,” Allen said. The New Zealand batsman also talked about controlling the pace of the innings in high-pressure chases. “When that happens, you forget about my batting and play according to the situation. If I’m out there for a long time, I try to bat 40 balls,” he explained. Allen added that missing the starting lineup early in the season helped him reset his mindset. “Sometimes it changes your perspective. You leave the team and refresh yourself. I put too much pressure on myself at the beginning,” he said. This reset, coupled with the increased clarity, has now translated into one of the most devastating innings of IPL 2026, and a timely revival for KKR in the playoffs.