Rahane: "I accept responsibility for the loss; it was a poor shot on my part"

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane took full accountability for his team’s dismal chase of a modest 112-run target against Punjab Kings (PBKS), labeling it a “collective failure” of the batting unit. KKR folded for just 95 in 15.1 overs, falling short by 16 runs in Mullanpur.

Visibly dejected in the post-match interview, Rahane said, “I’ll take the blame. As captain, I played a poor shot—even if it was missing the stumps—and it all started from there. We were reckless as a batting group while chasing what was a very achievable target.”

Rahane acknowledged that the loss stung, adding that he had to consciously remain calm before addressing the dressing room. “It was disappointing. Our batting effort just wasn’t good enough. The bowlers did a great job restricting Punjab to 111 on that pitch.”

Speaking at the post-match press conference, Rahane admitted it wasn’t PBKS’s bowling that troubled them, but their own poor execution. “This wasn’t about how well they bowled; it was about how badly we batted. As captain, I take responsibility. The others will also need to reflect on their individual performances.”

KKR lost early wickets but regained control with a 55-run partnership between Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Just as the game seemed to be in KKR’s hands, Yuzvendra Chahal trapped Rahane lbw—a key moment that turned the tide. Rahane chose not to review the decision, which replays later showed was missing the stumps.

“I wanted to save the review for later,” he explained. “The communication between me and Angkrish wasn’t clear. If someone firmly tells you the impact is questionable, you take the review. But it was vague—‘maybe umpire’s call, maybe hitting’—so I let it go. That’s on me.”

Chahal capitalized on that breakthrough, ripping through the middle order with a match-winning 4 for 28. KKR collapsed, losing their last eight wickets for just 33 runs.

Reflecting on the batting collapse, Rahane said, “You need to stay positive, show intent, but play proper cricketing shots. The sweep was tough on this pitch, and we were reckless. We needed to rotate strike, even just push for singles.”

He denied any complacency in the camp but pointed out a lack of game awareness. “The players are confident and experienced. It wasn’t about being overconfident or taking things lightly. We simply didn’t assess the situation well. After losing three or four wickets, we should have consolidated. T20s aren’t just about big hits—it's about reading the conditions, playing smart cricket, and building partnerships.”

Rahane stressed the importance of regrouping and staying positive despite the setback. “There’s still a long way to go in the tournament. We’ve been playing good cricket overall. But we need to talk about this loss, learn from it, and come back stronger.”

As for how he planned to speak to the team post-match? “Right now, too many thoughts are running through my head. Once I go upstairs, I need to clear my mind and calmly figure out what to say to the boys.”

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