IPL 2026: Rare outburst of Ajinkya Rahane sums up Kolkata Knight Riders’ rocky start

Ajinkya Rahane and calmness are almost synonymous. Rarely does the experienced batter allow emotions to spill over in public.

But in the quagmire that is the Indian Premier League (IPL), where expectations skyrocket, pressure mounts and scrutiny rarely relents, even the most composed personalities can find themselves tested.

Thursday night proved to be one such occasion.

Shortly after Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to consecutive defeats, this time against Sunrisers Hyderabad, questions resurfaced about the skipper’s form and whether his style of batting fits the demands of the modern IPL ecosystem.

Never one to duck tough questions, Rahane attempted to keep his responses measured. But beneath the composed exterior, there was a hint of frustration, perhaps understandable, given the one-sided nature of the defeats and the mounting noise around his strike rate and approach at the top of the order.

Statistically, Rahane’s strike rate in this edition of the tournament has hovered around 150, his best return since 2023. Yet, his effectiveness has remained under the scanner, particularly his role as an opener.

Rahane began in familiar fashion, brushing aside concerns with a routine “I am not too worried.” But as the conversation progressed, the veteran offered a glimpse into what he might be going through mentally. He suggested that criticism of his game often comes with preconceived notions and hinted that some detractors were unwilling to accept his evolution as a T20 batter.

No names were mentioned, but Rahane’s words reflected a sense of dissatisfaction with how his performances were being perceived, particularly around the debate on strike rate.

While the right-hander has maintained a healthy tempo inside the PowerPlay, his scoring rate has dipped once fielding restrictions are lifted, inviting further debate over his role in the side’s batting template.

“My strike rate… I have the best strike rate so far in 2023. People who are talking are probably not watching the game or have a certain agenda against me,” Rahane said.

“They don’t like me playing. They don’t like to watch me play. The amount of success I’ve got, I guess they’re jealous about that…”

This is not the first time Rahane has voiced his feelings publicly.

During the Ranji Trophy last season, the former India vice-captain had expressed disappointment at the lack of communication from national selectors after being left out of the scheme of things, despite scoring a daddy hundred against Chhattisgarh. At the time, Rahane had made it clear that clarity about his future mattered to him.

Though he could not fully sustain that momentum in the longer format and eventually withdrew towards the latter stages of the tournament, Rahane demonstrated his adaptability in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, amassing 391 runs for Mumbai at an impressive strike rate of 161.57.

However, the IPL presents a different challenge altogether: a bigger stage, sharper spotlight and far less patience.

Barely a week into the season, Rahane finds himself under pressure. While KKR’s bowling unit has struggled to deliver consistently, the batting line-up, too, has not quite clicked as a cohesive unit.

As captain, the burden of results invariably circles back to him, a reality Rahane readily acknowledges.

“My intent was there. Sometimes, as a batter, you don’t get the rhythm or the flow. People who are talking either don’t understand the game, or they want me to play a different kind of innings. They didn’t expect that Ajinkya Rahane would improve his game this much,” he said.

Rahane also spoke about building a partnership with Finn Allen at the top of the order, stressing the importance of fearless cricket in the first six overs while accepting that occasional struggles are part of the process.

“I am happy they are talking about me, negative or positive. Let them talk. In the first six overs, you need to look to play fearless cricket with freedom. At times you will struggle, that’s okay, it’s important to accept…”

Process and perspective remain central to Rahane’s outlook. “I know what I’m doing, I know what I’ve done in the past, and I back myself instead of thinking about what others are saying. Whoever is talking about it, let them talk…”

With two defeats in its first two outings, KKR already finds itself under pressure early in the season. The margin for error is narrowing quickly, and only a sharp turnaround can silence the noise growing around the team – and its captain.

For Rahane, the message is clear: performance remains the only convincing answer to the ‘talks’.

Published on Apr 03, 2026