Rahane Reflects on KKR’s IPL 2025 Struggles
Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), shared his thoughts on the team’s disappointing performance in the IPL 2025 season, attributing their struggles to the pressure batters faced. After a recent match against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which was rained out, KKR officially exited the tournament.
In their last game, KKR faced a tough 110-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. Despite the overall team challenges, Rahane stood out by scoring 390 runs with an average of 35.45 throughout the season. However, star players like Quinton de Kock and Andre Russell had a hard time making impactful contributions.
“Sometimes, when you perform well over a couple of seasons, you end up putting too much pressure on yourself. I think that’s what happened to several players on our team. They were trying very hard to showcase their skills, which is a natural reaction,” Rahane said during the post-match press conference.
Learning from Mistakes
In the latest match, KKR struggled to reach a target of 279 runs, getting bowled out for 168 runs in just 18.4 overs. The team was in trouble early in the innings, reaching 110 for seven, with Harshit Rana’s quick knock of 34 runs providing a bit of relief.
“We’ve had a tough season, but I’m confident that our players will take lessons from this experience. It’s not just about individuals; there’s a lot for the entire team to learn this year,” Rahane added.
He noted that some players were facing difficulties, which affected the team’s batting performance as a whole. However, he expressed his faith that they would overcome these challenges and return stronger next season.
KKR wrapped up their campaign with 12 points, winning five out of their 14 matches, leaving them with a net run rate of -0.305.
