Ajinkya Rahane Takes Responsibility for KKR’s Disappointing Loss to PBKS
Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain Ajinkya Rahane did not hold back in his criticism of his team’s batting during their recent loss to Punjab Kings. The team only needed to chase down 112 runs to secure victory but stumbled to a shocking 95 all out, losing the match by 16 runs.
In the post-match presentation, Rahane took full responsibility for the defeat, acknowledging that his dismissal played a crucial role in the team’s collapse. He expressed regret over playing an ill-fated shot even though the ball was predicted to miss the stumps. He revealed that his batting partner, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, was uncertain about taking a review after the decision.
"There’s not much to say. We all saw what unfolded. As captain, I take the blame. I played the wrong shot, and even though it looked like the ball would miss the stumps, I still need to own my part," Rahane stated. He mentioned that he and Raghuvanshi were not fully confident in their decision-making during the match.
While he was at the crease, Rahane thought the match was within reach. "While I was batting, we were focused on chasing those points. The wicket was tricky, but 111 was still manageable. Sadly, we just didn’t bat well," he added.
Feeling Reckless
Rahane pointed out that the team’s batters needed to approach the game with more confidence, rather than being reckless. He acknowledged that there’s still half of the tournament left and that he intends to discuss the performance with his team.
"Players need to believe in themselves. The sweep shot was difficult that day. We should have waited for our chances and played smart cricket. Unfortunately, we were too reckless and need to take responsibility as a unit," he emphasized.
He also mentioned feeling overwhelmed by thoughts during the game but remained hopeful. "It’s still early in the season and that was a chaseable target for us. When I go back to review our performance, I’ll remain calm and focus on how to motivate the team. We need to stay positive and aim to play better cricket moving forward," Rahane concluded.
Looking ahead, KKR will face Gujarat Titans in their next match on April 21.
