Home
Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane hit back at his critics following KKR's second consecutive defeat in the ongoing Indian Premier League. KKR faced Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home venue, Eden Gardens, on Thursday, but endured another disappointing result, managing just 161 in 20 overs while chasing Hyderabad’s imposing total of 226, eventually losing by 65 runs.
Rahane responds strongly to criticism
After the match concluded, Rahane addressed questions regarding his batting approach, his opening partnership with Finn Allen, and ongoing criticism surrounding his strike rate and struggles against spin.
The 37-year-old responded firmly, stating that his numbers since 2023 speak for themselves and suggesting that critics either haven’t been watching closely or hold a bias against him.
"I think I have one of the best strike rates so far from 2023," he said. "People who are talking about me (are) probably not watching the game or they have a certain agenda against me. They don't like me playing. They don't like to watch me play."
Stats tell a mixed story
Statistically, Rahane does boast impressive numbers in certain phases. He holds the fourth-best strike rate in powerplay overs at 167.78 among players with at least 300 balls faced. Only aggressive batters like Travis Head (187.98), Abhishek Sharma (176.56), and Phil Salt (173.8) rank above him.
However, his struggles become more evident after the power play, particularly against spin bowling. Between overs 7 to 15, Ajinkya Rahane’s strike rate drops significantly to 114.02, highlighting a key area of concern.
“They are jealous of me”: Rahane doubles down
Continuing his response, Rahane suggested that his recent success has made him a target for criticism, describing it as an “eyesore” for some.
"The amount of success which I got, I guess they are jealous of me. I am not too worried. You guys know what I am doing. Just one bad innings...not a bad inning, but my intent was there. Sometimes as a batter, you don't get that rhythm, you don't get that flow. People who are talking, either they don't understand the game (or) I think they want me to play a different kind of innings."
"They didn't expect that Ajinkya Rahane will basically prove his game this much. So I am happy they are talking about me, negative or positive, either way. I am really happy that they are talking. Let them talk." He added
Pressure builds ahead of next clash
With two back-to-back defeats, pressure is steadily mounting on Ajinkya Rahane and KKR, as both their batting and bowling units have struggled to click so far this season.
The Bengal side will now face Punjab Kings in their third IPL 2026 fixture on Monday at Eden Gardens, where they will look to turn things around.
ADVERTISEMENT
