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Ajinkya Rahane (Source:AFP)
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane has strongly responded to criticism following his team's disappointing start in the IPL 2026. After two consecutive defeats, Ajinkya Rahane defended his batting approach and spoke about the negative opinions about him.
KKR currently sit at the 9th position of the points table after losing both of their opening matches.
Their campaign began with a defeat against the Mumbai Indians, followed by a heavy 65-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground, Eden Gardens.
KKR's struggles continue despite individual performances
KKR's defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad exposed several weaknesses in their lineup. Chasing a massive target of 227, the team collapsed for 161 in just 16 overs. The innings lacked stability, with no significant partnerships to anchor the chase.
Young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi showed promise with a well-made 52 off 29 balls, while Finn Allen provided a quick start, scoring 28 runs off 7 balls. However, crucial run-outs involving Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Cameron Green derailed the innings for KKR.
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On the bowling side, the Kolkata-based franchise also struggled to contain SRH’s aggressive batting.
Explosive contributions from Heinrich Klaasen and Abhishek Sharma helped SRH post a daunting total. Their bowlers, including Jaydev Unadkat, delivered disciplined performances to secure a comfortable win.
Ajinkya Rahane defends his batting approach and record
Amid the criticism, Ajinkya Rahane did not hold back. The experienced batter managed only 8 runs off 10 balls in the SRH game. His slow knock in a high-pressure chase drew scrutiny, but the Kolkata skipper insisted that his intent was right.
Ajinkya Rahane highlighted his improved T20 approach since 2023, noting that his strike rate has been among the best among Indian players during the powerplay.
He stated that those criticising him may not fully understand the game or are choosing to ignore his performances.
"I think I have one of the best strike rates so far from 2023," Rahane said in the post-match press conference. "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," he added.
"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," he added.
Rahane remains confident despite KKR's shaky start
He even suggested that jealousy could be a factor behind the criticism. According to Rahane, his success over the years has made him a target for negative commentary.
Despite the noise, he maintained that he is not overly concerned and remains focused on contributing to the team.
"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 said.
The KKR management had placed its trust in Rahane and even handed him captaincy before IPL 2026. While the start has been far from ideal for Rahane, the KKR skipper will want to turn things around as the IPL moves to crucial phases.
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