Ajinkya Rahane was understandably disheartened. As a captain, experiencing such defeats is particularly challenging, especially when victory seemed within reach and a misjudgment altered the course of the game. In contrast, his Mumbai teammate and close friend, Shreyas Iyer, found himself at a loss for how to celebrate. He was breathless, panting heavily, yet he did not hesitate to express his excitement vocally. This is the essence of cricket; this is the IPL. The charm of the tournament often resides in the interactions among players and support staff following a tightly contested match. It resembles a large family reuniting after a demanding day at work. This was precisely the atmosphere following the IPL 2025 match between the Punjab Kings and the Kolkata Knight Riders in New Chandigarh on Tuesday, April 15.

While chasing a modest target of 112 runs, Kolkata Knight Riders appeared to be in control at 62 for 3 in 7.3 overs when Rahane's dismissal dramatically shifted the momentum. Punjab Kings' leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal delivered a googly, which Rahane attempted to sweep but missed. The ball struck him in front, and the appeal was deemed close. After a brief discussion with his partner, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rahane opted to leave the field without requesting a review.

This decision proved to be a costly mistake, as replays indicated that the ball had impacted outside the off-stump, meaning he would have been safe. The loss of his wicket triggered a collapse, with KKR losing their next five wickets for a mere 17 runs, plummeting to 79 for 8, while Chahal recorded impressive figures of 4 for 12.

Andre Russell briefly rekindled hopes with a couple of sixes and a boundary in the 14th over, but PBKS bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen claimed the final two KKR wickets, bowling them out for 95 and securing victory by 16 runs, defending the lowest total in IPL history.

Ajinkya Rahane's chat with Shreyas Iyer after the match

Following the unexpected victory, the PBKS players celebrated exuberantly as if there were no tomorrow. Subsequently, they formed a line for the customary post-match handshake. Rahane took the lead for the KKR team, with PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer positioned directly in front of him. While it was difficult to gauge Rahane's emotions at that moment, his cheerful words to Iyer conveyed a significant message. "Kya faltu batting kari humne," (What a disastrous batting effort from us) Rahane remarked to Iyer in Mumbaiya Hindi before they exchanged handshakes and embraced each other.

The Internet was flooded with reactions after Rahane's act as fans deciphered what the KKR captain told his counterpart after a heartbreaking loss. Fans even praised Rahane for being genuine after a poor batting performance.

Following the match, a dejected Rahane remarked, "There is nothing to elaborate on; we all witnessed the events unfold. I am quite disappointed with our performance. I will accept responsibility for my dismissal, as I played an inappropriate shot, even though it was a marginal call. He seemed uncertain during his conversation with Angkrish Raghuvanshi after being given out LBW, suggesting it could have been the umpire's decision. I chose not to take a risk at that moment, as I was also unsure. That was the essence of our discussion."

"Our batting unit performed poorly, and we fully acknowledge our accountability. The bowlers excelled on this pitch, managing to limit a formidable Punjab batting lineup to just 111 runs. As an individual, it is essential to maintain confidence and a positive mindset. On this wicket, it was more effective to bat with a full face of the bat. The sweep shot proved to be quite challenging. We need to maintain our intent while executing proper cricketing shots. We were reckless and must accept full responsibility. Currently, I have a lot on my mind. This was a chase we should have handled easily. When I go upstairs, I need to remain calm and consider what to communicate to the team. It is crucial to stay positive, as half of the tournament is still ahead of us. We must address these issues and move forward," he concluded.

Read Also: Ajinkya Rahane on KKR’s Self-Destruct Mode: ‘Need to Keep Myself Calm’

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