KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane hits back at critics questioning his poor strike rate (80) as team suffer second loss, by 65 runs to SRH; insists there’s an ongoing agenda against him
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane against SRH at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on Thursday. Pic/IPL
With no points after two matches and a dangerously dipping net run-rate, questions have begun to swirl around KKR’s early campaign in IPL 2026. One in particular has irked Ajinkya Rahane, and the skipper didn’t mince words at the post-match press conference on Thursday.
“I think people who are talking about me are not watching the game or, [maybe], they have an agenda against me. They don’t like the amount of success I’ve got. They are jealous of me,” Rahane, 37, retorted after KKR’s 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad here, when his attention was drawn to the continued criticism of his strike-rate as an opener. He added that his strike-rate has been among the best in the last few years.
“People who are talking… [probably] didn’t expect Ajinkya Rahane to improve his game this much. I back myself rather than think about whoever is talking about me.”
Varun Chakravarthy, one half of KKR’s ‘mystery spin’ duo, conceded 25 runs in his first over and was given only one more. This came after he had conceded 48 in four overs vs Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on Sunday. “Varun, unfortunately, is going through a difficult phase, but he is working really hard and it is still early days in the tournament,” Rahane said. “What is important is to back our players.”
Chasing 227, the Knights were bowled out for 161 in 16 overs. When the writing is on the wall, is it not better to try and get close to the opponent’s total so that the net run-rate is taken care of?
“We definitely think about that. When the target gets out of reach, we have a plan to play out those (remaining) overs. The communication was clear, and they [tailenders] did try, but I thought the SRH bowlers were spot on.”
148.08
Rahane’s strike-rate since rejoining KKR last season; he has scored 465 runs off 314 balls in 15 matches
103.91
Rahane’s strike-rate in the 2022 IPL season in seven matches for KKR — his lowest ever (minimum three games)
125.33
Ajinkya Rahane’s overall strike-rate in the IPL. He has scored 5107 runs off 4075 balls in 200 matches
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