Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed his disbelief following his team's humiliating defeat to Punjab Kings on Tuesday night. The reigning champions faltered in their pursuit of a modest 112 runs, as their former captain Shreyas Iyer's team successfully defended the lowest total in Indian Premier League history. It was a dismal outing for the KKR batsmen, who were unable to implement their strategies in the straightforward chase, ultimately being dismissed for a mere 95 runs in just 15.1 overs.

At one point, KKR was comfortably positioned at 62/2 in 7.3 overs, appearing to be on track for victory. However, Yuzvendra Chahal had other ideas. The seasoned IPL bowler spun a web of deception, taking four wickets and swiftly leading to KKR's collapse to 95 runs.

Rahane acknowledged that his batsmen acted recklessly during the chase and must accept full accountability for the outcome, especially after the bowlers performed admirably. 

"On this pitch, it was better to bat with a full face. The sweep shot was quite challenging. We needed to maintain our intent while playing proper cricketing shots. We were reckless and must take full responsibility. Right now, I have too many thoughts racing through my mind. This was a chase we should have handled easily," Rahane stated after the match.

“When I go upstairs, need to keep myself calm…”: Rahane

Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi emerged as the top scorer for KKR, contributing 37 runs off 28 balls, including five fours and a six. In contrast, the highly regarded middle-order players—Venkatesh Iyer (7), Rinku Singh (2), and Ramandeep Singh (0)—once again fell short of expectations. The defending champions had shown considerable confidence in retaining and auctioning these players, yet they have not performed as anticipated. Although Andre Russell attempted to mount a challenge with his 17-run innings, he ultimately succumbed to the pressure after witnessing his teammates lose their wickets and became the final player dismissed.

Rahane candidly reflected on the likely discussions in the dressing room following such a performance, emphasising the need for composure. 

"When I go upstairs, I must remain calm and consider what to communicate to the team. It is essential to maintain a positive outlook, as half of the tournament is still ahead. We need to address this situation and move forward," he concluded.

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