IPL 2026: Ajinkya Rahane responds to criticism over batting approach
What's the story
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane has lashed out at critics questioning his batting approach. The outburst came after their 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Thursday. Rahane, who scored just eight runs off 10 balls in the match, defended himself by citing his strike rate since the start of 2023.
Strike rate defense
Rahane hits back at critics
Rahane said, "I think I have one of the best strike rates so far from 2023." He added that those criticizing him either don't watch the game or have a certain agenda against him. "They don't like me playing. They don't like to watch me play," he said, defending his batting style amid ongoing debates about his performance.
Performance statistics
His numbers since the start of 2023
Rahane's numbers support his claims. Since the start of 2023, he has the fourth-best strike rate (167.78) in the first six overs among players who have faced a minimum of 300 balls. However, post-Powerplay, his strike rate against spin between overs seven and 15 drops to 114.02. He was dismissed on the last ball of the fifth over by Jaydev Unadkat against SRH on Thursday.
Confident response
'They are jealous of me'
Rahane further said that those criticizing him are jealous of his success. "The amount of success which I got, I guess they are jealous of me," he said. He added, "I am not too worried. You guys know what I am doing. Just one bad innings...not a bad inning, but my intent was there." He also noted that sometimes batters don't find their rhythm or flow during a match.
Batting acknowledgment
KKR's batting struggles against SRH
Rahane also acknowledged KKR's batting struggles in the match, saying they failed to build a partnership that could have made a difference. He said, "The wicket was good today. Played really well." Despite the loss, he praised his bowlers for their performance after 10 overs and said they came back smartly.