In IPL 2026, the match was played between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Eden Garden on Thursday. KKR had to face defeat by 65 runs in this match. Captain Rahane's bat did not work in this match. He was out after scoring 8 runs in 10 balls. Critics raised questions on Rahane's strike rate, to which he answered after the match.
Rahane said, “My strike rate is the best since 2023. People who are talking are probably not watching the match or have a special agenda against me. They don't like me playing. They don't like watching me play. I think they are jealous of the amount of success I have got.”
The KKR captain said, “I am not too worried. My intentions were the same. Sometimes as a batsman you don't get the flow. The people who are talking either do not understand the game or they want me to play a different kind of innings. They did not expect Ajinkya Rahane to improve his game so much. I am happy that they are talking about me whether it is positive or negative. Let them talk. I know what I am doing. I I know what I have done before and let whoever is talking about it talk about it.
Since IPL 2023, among Indian batsmen, only Abhishek (176.56) has a better strike rate than Rahane (167.78) in powerplay. The problem for Rahane is that his strike rate drops after the powerplay and that is why he is criticized.
Rahane, who scored 67 runs on 40 balls in the first match of the season against Mumbai Indians, did not bat against SRH and the team had to face its second consecutive defeat. Chasing the target of 227 runs, KKR was reduced to 161 in 16 overs.
