Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane didn’t hold back after his side’s dramatic collapse against Punjab Kings on Tuesday. Chasing just 112 in Mullanpur, KKR crashed to 95 all out, handing Punjab a surprise 16-run win.
Rahane, who scored 36 and was involved in a solid 60-run stand with Angkrish Raghuvanshi, admitted he made a costly mistake by not taking a DRS after being given out LBW. Replays later showed the ball was missing the stumps.
“I’ll take the blame. I played a poor shot and didn’t review when I should have,” Rahane said after the game. “The wicket wasn’t easy, but 112 was definitely gettable. We just batted really badly as a unit.”
The collapse began with Rahane’s dismissal by Yuzvendra Chahal, who starred with the ball, taking 4 for 28—his best figures of the tournament. Marco Jansen added to KKR’s troubles, grabbing three wickets to help Punjab seal the win.
That's what a good leader does💗#rahane #PBKSvKKRpic.twitter.com/sTTJSxkMdT
— TushaRR (@ictaashiqana_) April 15, 2025
Rahane was visibly frustrated with his team’s shot selection and admitted that too many thoughts were clouding his mind during the chase. “We were reckless. I need to calm down and think carefully before speaking to the boys. We still have half the tournament left, so it’s important to stay positive.”
The skipper praised his bowlers for holding Punjab to 111, calling it a strong effort. But he made it clear that the batters, including himself, let the team down.
With this win, Punjab Kings move up to fourth on the table with 8 points from 6 games. KKR, meanwhile, sit sixth with 6 points from 7 matches—and some serious questions to answer.
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