Harbhajan Singh has called out Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane for a major tactical blunder during Sunday's IPL 2026 match against Mumbai Indians (MI). The former India spinner was baffled that Rahane didn't use Sunil Narine to counter a firing Rohit Sharma, especially since Narine is well-known for having a highly successful track record against the MI star.
Harbhajan Singh openly questions Ajinkya Rahane's captaincy
The decision proved costly on a flat Wankhede Stadium surface as the KKR bowlers were thoroughly dismantled. Chasing a daunting target of 221, Rohit spearheaded the attack by smashing a blistering 78 off just 38 balls. He found the perfect foil in opening partner Ryan Rickelton, who blazed his way to 81 off 43 balls. Together, the pair put on a masterclass, stringing together a massive 148-run opening stand in just 72 deliveries to put Mumbai firmly in the driver's seat.
"The best match-up was to bowl Sunil Narine in the powerplay, at least one or two overs to target Rohit Sharma early. That was their best chance to pick wickets and put Mumbai under pressure. Instead, Narine didn't even complete his full quota, which shows the captaincy wasn't up to the mark," Harbhajan told JioStar.
"Credit to Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. They batted with ease and never let the bowlers settle, but KKR could have handled that phase much better," he added.
'Let people talk about me. They have been talking about me for 20 years'
Heading into the clash against the Mumbai Indians, Ajinkya Rahane had not played a competitive match since December 2025, sparking quiet speculation about his future in the game. Yet, any doubts about his match fitness or longevity were swiftly answered. Shaking off more than three months of inactivity, he marked his return to the crease with a brilliant, calculated 67 off just 40 balls at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
“Let people talk, yaar about me. They have been talking about me for 20 years, let them talk. I am really happy, the way I am batting at the moment. I am not here to show anyone how talented I am or what is my game. People are watching. Let them watch. Let them talk. I’m just happy with how I’m batting. Over the last 2–3 years, I’ve worked on improving my T20 game,” Rahane said after the match.
KKR will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 2 at the Eden Gardens stadium.