IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane lashes out at 'jealous' critics
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane hit back at critics questioning his strike rate after two consecutive IPL losses. Rahane, who has moved up the order, defended his performance, stating he knows his game and is backed by past success. He acknowledged the team needs to find the right combination and build partnerships.
KOLKATA: Has Ajinkya Rahane started feeling the heat after Kolkata Knight Riders suffered back-to-back defeats at the start of their campaign in this IPL? This is only the second time in the three-time champions’ history that they have had such a poor start to a season. The KKR skipper, known to be calm and composed person, lashed out at critics following the team’s 65-run defeat to SRH on Thursday.
Rahane’s strike rate has come under the scanner since he came out to open, pushing KKR’s long-time belligerent opener Sunil Narine down the order. “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 is talking about it, let them talk,” he said when asked about the issue.
“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,” he added. The 37-yearold Mumbai batter captained KKR last season too, scoring 390 runs from 13 matches at a strike rate of 147.
73. He was Mumbai’s top run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy, scoring 391 runs from 10 innings at a strike rate of 161. 57.