Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, shared his thoughts on his team’s performance after they lost to Gujarat Titans in the latest match. Rahane thinks it’s crucial for the team to step up their batting game, especially since they’ve only won three out of eight matches so far. With the season progressing, KKR really needs to start winning if they want to keep their hopes of repeating as champions alive.
In the match against Gujarat, KKR couldn’t chase down a rather challenging target of 199 runs at Eden Gardens. This loss came right after another disappointing performance where they failed to reach 112 against Punjab Kings. Rahane expressed his belief that the target was within reach, pointing out that the team has been struggling to get a solid start with their opening batters. He said, “When you’re aiming to knock down 199 runs, you really expect the openers to get off to a flying start. That’s been a struggle for us this whole tournament.” Despite his disappointment, he acknowledged the bowlers did their job well, keeping the Titans’ score manageable.
After the match, Rahane noted that while the pitch was a bit slow, the team should have still been able to chase the runs. He said, We thought if we could keep them under 200, we’d have a good shot. We know these conditions well, but our batting in the middle overs has not been up to the mark.” He stressed that even though the bowlers did their part, getting a better start at the top of the order is something the team needs to focus on improving.
Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler from Gujarat were putting on a good show, but Rahane was proud of how his bowlers fought back and managed to restrict the Titans under 200 runs. He praised them, saying they have been doing a solid job match after match. Fielding is another area he believes the team can control better. “If we can save 10 to 15 runs out on the field, that’s always a win for us. It’s about having the right mindset and being alert for the entire 20 overs,” he mentioned.
Rahane recognized that the players are working hard and emphasized that this fast-paced format of the game demands bravery. He reminded his teammates that dwelling on past mistakes won’t help; what’s important is to learn from them and keep pushing forward. Keeping a level head and maintaining a positive attitude will be key as they navigate through the season’s challenges.
