Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed his disappointment with the openers following their ongoing struggles this season, as his team faced yet another defeat against the Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens. In pursuit of a target of 199 runs, KKR found it difficult to establish momentum; aside from Rahane, the other batsmen failed to pose a significant challenge to the Titans' bowlers, resulting in a convincing 39-run victory for the visitors.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz (1) and Sunil Narine (17) were dismissed early during the powerplay, placing additional pressure on Rahane, who managed to score a commendable half-century off 36 balls. KKR made a change to their opening lineup for this match by substituting Quinton de Kock with Gurbaz, but this decision did not yield positive results.

"I believed that 199 was a target we could chase. We had a strong comeback with the ball. When chasing 199, a solid start from the openers is crucial, and that has been our ongoing struggle throughout this tournament. I thought the target was achievable on this pitch; we bowled well but faltered in our batting," Rahane stated to broadcasters after the match.

The middle-order also struggled against the Titans' spin attack, with Venkatesh Iyer (14), Andre Russell (21), and Rinku Singh (17) failing to contribute significantly to the chase.

Rahane candidly acknowledged that the batting lineup has been the team's weak point, while the bowlers performed admirably by keeping the Titans under 200 runs.

"We are familiar with these conditions and need to bat effectively, particularly during the middle overs, where we have been lacking. When chasing a substantial target, a strong start from the openers is expected. This is an area we aim to improve as a batting unit; I have no complaints about our bowlers, who have consistently performed well," he added.

The KKR captain also highlighted the team's disappointing fielding performance during the match against the Titans, noting that they dropped critical catches that allowed the Titans' batsmen to score freely.

"Fielding is an aspect that I believe we can control as a team. If we can save 10-15 runs through better fielding, it can make a significant difference," he concluded.

‘I back them completely’: Rahane on middle-order batters

Despite In response to the criticism, Rahane expressed his confidence in the underperforming batting lineup, asserting that they possess the necessary talent and that improvements will come with time.

"When a team is struggling, even a slight improvement of 1% can be significant. As a batting unit, it is essential to be courageous, seize opportunities, and maintain a positive mindset. Focusing on the possibility of getting out can lead to failure; instead, the emphasis should be on scoring runs. I am confident that our batters are aware of this. It is only a matter of time before we see results, as we have skilled players in the middle order, and I fully support them," he concluded.

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