Ajinkya Rahane was cut a distraught figure after his Kolkata Knight Riders fell to a humiliating defeat on Tuesday. With the bowlers having delivered in the first half, KKR needed only 112 to pick up a win and possibly go top of the IPL 2025 standings. However, what followed was implosion of sorts, with the visitors tumbling to 95 all out.
Batted badly as a unit, take full responsibility: Rahane
It looked like a certain KKR win in Mullanpur until Ajinkya Rahane was dismissed LBW in Yuzvendra Chahal’s first over. From 62/2, KKR slipped to 95 all out, losing 8 wickets for just 33 runs. The KKR skipper opted against the review, with replays later showing the impact was not in line with the stumps. Rahane believed while the batters should have still chased the score down, his wicket was key in turning the tide.
“I’ll take the blame, played the wrong shot and was missing, but it started from there. On this wicket, batting with a full face was better. Sweep was pretty hard to play. Keep the intent going, but play cricketing shots. As an individual, you still have to be confident and positive. I didn’t want to take a chance at the time, I wasn’t sure as well,” Rahane said at the post-match presentation.
‘Need to calm myself before talking to the boys’
The KKR skipper seemed livid with his side’s batting performance, saying he would have to ‘calm himself’ before speaking with the boys. He spared a thought for his bowlers, who restricted Punjab Kings to just 111.
“We batted really badly as a batting unit, we take full responsibility. Bowlers did really well on this surface, restricting a strong Punjab batting lineup to 111. We were reckless and should take full responsibility. At the moment, too many things going in my head. It was an easy chase for us. When I go upstairs, need to keep myself calm and then think about what to say to the boys,” Rahane said after the PBKS vs KKR game.
Following their defeat in the PBKS vs KKR clash, Rahane’s side now sits 6th in the IPL 2025 points table, with 3 wins and 4 defeats. A victory, depending on the margin, would have seen them climb to the top. The defending champions will hope to get back to winning ways when they return to Eden Garden next, facing Gujarat Titans.
