Rahane: Batting Group Must Build on This Performance Going Forward
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane urged his team’s batting unit to take key lessons from their commanding win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and use it as a blueprint for the rest of the IPL 2025 campaign.
After a disappointing collapse against Mumbai Indians where KKR were bowled out for just 116, they bounced back impressively to post 200 for 6 against SRH on Thursday in Kolkata. This recovery came despite the early loss of both openers by the third over. Rahane and youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi steadied the ship before Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh launched a late onslaught to power the team past 200.
“Once we lost Quinny [Quinton de Kock] and Sunny [Sunil Narine], the plan was to stabilize until the end of the powerplay,” Rahane explained. “We wanted to play with intent, focus on proper cricket shots, and ensure we had wickets in hand going into the final 10 overs. That allowed the lower order to go big later, and that’s exactly what happened.”
Rahane emphasized the significance of the win, especially after a couple of underwhelming performances.
“This was a crucial match for us. Winning by such a large margin gives us momentum. We lost the toss and were put in to bat, which wasn’t ideal, but we made it work. I’m pleased with how the batting unit responded after two poor games,” he said. “This match is a great example of what we can achieve and something we must carry forward.”
The turning point came after the 81-run stand between Rahane and Raghuvanshi was broken. Raghuvanshi fell shortly after, leaving KKR at 97 for 4. But Iyer and Rinku absorbed the pressure, accelerating at the right time to add 78 runs in the final five overs.
“When Rinku and Venkatesh were at the crease, the message was clear: in the last 30 balls, we can get 50-60 runs,” Rahane said. “We know what they’re capable of. Ramandeep, Dre [Russell], and Moeen [Ali] were all ready in the dugout if needed. The plan was to bat sensibly till 15 overs and then press the accelerator.”
Rahane also credited the bowlers for their outstanding display. Impact substitute Vaibhav Arora picked up 3 for 29, removing Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Heinrich Klaasen, while Harshit Rana took the key scalp of Abhishek Sharma, reducing SRH to 9 for 3 in just over two overs—a collapse from which they never recovered.
“Full credit to Vaibhav and Harshit for delivering in the powerplay. Those are tough overs to bowl, and Vaibhav’s early wickets really set the tone,” Rahane said.
“We initially thought 170-180 would be a good score, but that partnership between Rinku and Venkatesh pushed us to 200, which was massive. We saw the slower balls were gripping, and our three quality spinners made use of the conditions. Moeen couldn’t bowl, but Varun [Chakravarthy] and Sunny [Narine] were brilliant.”
With this win, KKR not only got their campaign back on track but also sent a strong message about their depth and resilience, especially in the face of early setbacks.