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Ajinkya Rahane: 'They have certain agenda against me...', Rahane fires..
Kolkata, April 3 : Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane defended his batting approach after a 65-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and fired back at critics questioning his strike rate and intent, saying they are jealous and have certain agenda against him.Rahane endured a slow start, managing only eight runs off his first nine deliveries before top-edging a slower ball from Jaydev Unadkat. He also found it difficult to rotate strike or play attacking shots against the spin duo of Harsh Dubey and Abhishek Sharma during the powerplay.However, in KKR's tournament opener against Mumbai Indians, Rahane played a 67-run knock off 40 balls at a strike rate of 167.50.Moreover, KKR’s innings was marked by a lack of substantial partnerships, with no stand reaching the half-century mark. The situation was further worsened by the run-outs of key batters, Cameron Green and Angkrish Raghuvanshi, as the team was eventually bowled out for 161 in just 16 overs."My strike rate... I have the best strike rate so far, from 2023. People who are talking are probably not watching the game or have a certain agenda against me. They don't like me playing, they don't like to watch me play. The amount of success I've had, I guess they are jealous of me. I'm not too worried. My intent was there. Sometimes as a batter you don't get the rhythm or the flow," Rahane told reporters during the post-match presser.Since IPL 2023, only Abhishek Sharma (176.56) has a better strike rate than Rahane (167.78) in the powerplay among Indians (with a cut-off of 250 balls faced)."People who are talking either don't understand the game or they want me to play a different kind of innings. They didn't expect that Ajinkya Rahane would improve his game this much. I am happy they are talking about me - negative or positive. Let them talk. But partnering Finn Allen, it has been very good. The first six overs you need to look to play fearless cricket with freedom. At times you will struggle, that's okay, it's important to accept."But I know what I'm doing, I know what I've done in the past, and I back myself instead of thinking about what others are saying. Whoever are talking about it, let them talk," said Rahane.KKR suffered two defeats in their first two games - only the second time in KKR's history have they had such a poor start to a season. They will have to bounce back when they host Punjab Kings on April 6 and Lucknow Super Giants come on April 9.
'They are jealous': Ajinkya Rahane reacts after KKR defeat vs SRH IPL ...
Ajinkya Rahane has long been the quiet man of Indian cricket but after Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) 65-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), the veteran finally snapped. Confronted with questions regarding his intent and a modest 8-off-10-ball outing, Rahane launched a rare, blistering counter-attack against his critics, labelling the scrutiny as jealousy. ALSO READ ‘They are jealous of me’ Rahane’s outburst at the Eden Gardens press conference was a defense of his entire T20 second act. “People who are talking… probably have certain agendas,” Rahane stated. “The amount of success I have had, I guess they are jealous of me.” ALSO READ For Rahane, the criticism feels personal. Since his high-strike-rate avatar emerged in 2023, he has traded his anchor role for that of a Powerplay aggressor. To have that transition questioned after one failed chase (KKR were bundled out for 161) clearly touched a nerve. The cap suits you, Anki 🥳💜 pic.twitter.com/519SfVEQsu— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 3, 2026 The statistical shield Rahane is not just speaking from emotion, he’s leaning on his recent resume to silence the strike-rate noise- Last season, Rahane was KKR’s top scorer with 390 runs at a formidable strike rate of 147.73. Just days ago, he proved that intent was still there, smashing 67 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians. Rahane maintains that T20 batting is about flow, arguing that critics who fixate on a single 10-ball failure don’t understand the volatility of the opening slot. — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 3, 2026 ALSO READ Leadership under the lens His role as captain amplifies the pressure on Rahane. While KKR saw flashes of brilliance from Finn Allen and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi (52 off 29) last night, the team’s collapse in just 16 overs raised red flags. A high-profile run-out involving Cameron Green and a general lack of middle-order partnerships did not help Rahane’s track record as a captain.This article was first uploaded on April three, twenty twenty-six, at fifty-two minutes past eleven in the morning.
IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane Fires Back at Critics After KKR Loss To SRH
Ajinkya Rahane Fires Back at Critics After KKR's Loss to SRH in IPL 2026. Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane responded strongly after KKR's defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad by 65 runs in IPL 2026. The defeat creates buzz because of Rahane's batting, captaincy and strike rate. Rahane did not hold back during the post-match interaction.
Ajinkya Rahane lashes out at critics over strike-rate talk amid KKR's ...
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane defends his batting style and strike-rate after back-to-back losses to SRH in IPL 2026, dismissing critics and focusing on his partnership with Finn Allen.
