IPL 2026: 'Tough one to take, but proud of the boys,' says Rahane after KKR loss against LSG
Kolkata, April 10
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane admitted that their three-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League 2026 is a really tough one to take, as they slumped to another close defeat at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Coming to bat first, KKR posted a competitive 181/4 in 20 overs, thanks to solid contributions from Rahane (41), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45), and an unbeaten 39 from Rovman Powell. The total looked challenging on a slow surface, especially after KKR pulled things back in the middle overs.
However, LSG chased down the target in dramatic fashion, with Mukul Chaudhary smashing an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls and sharing a crucial partnership after Ayush Badoni had earlier anchored the innings.
"Tough one to take, but really proud of the boys for the way we played. Mukul's knock was defining," Rahane said after the match, praising Mukul Choudhary for his match-winning effort.
Reflecting on the final overs, where the team lost the plot, Rahane said, "The execution here and there can happen in the last two overs, but credit to Mukul for that partnership. For them, it was nothing to lose, two overs, 30 runs, so it was all about swinging hard every ball."
He acknowledged that, despite some good deliveries, Mukul's aggressive approach turned the game. "A couple of balls were good balls, but he batted brilliantly," Rahane added.
Rahane also pointed out that defending the total was not straightforward given the conditions. "180 odd on this wicket wasn't easy. Let's give credit to the batter for the way he batted," he said.
The KKR captain revealed the team's strategy in the final over as well. "Intention was to keep Avesh Khan on strike. We had to field five fielders up, and it's tough on the bowlers," he explained.
Despite the defeat, Rahane remained positive about his side's effort, while admitting that small margins made the difference in the end. With this loss, KKR are yet to win a match this season. They will now face five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 14.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Rahane is being a good sport and taking responsibility, which is nice to see. But honestly, the team management needs to look at the bowling combinations. Letting a game slip from that position is not acceptable. Proud of the fight, but points on the board matter more.
What an innings by Mukul Chaudhary! From UP, playing for Lucknow, that's some local boy hero stuff right there. 👏 Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to a brilliant counter-attacking knock. KKR will be gutted.
The real issue is the middle order batting. Rahane and Raghuvanshi did well, but we needed someone to accelerate earlier. 181 is good, but on a small ground like Eden, it's just par. The team looks good on paper but not clicking.
As a neutral fan, that was fantastic entertainment! T20 at its best. A captain gracious in defeat and a young player seizing his moment. This is why the IPL is so popular globally.
Zero wins so far... the season is slipping away. Need a miracle against Dhoni's army in Chennai. Bowling to Mukul in the last over was a tactical error, should have gone for a yorker specialist. Tough days for Knight Riders.
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