Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane stated underwhelming batting performances by key gamers like Rinku Singh and Andre Russell, was the principle motive for the defending champions’ disappointing eighth-place end this IPL season.
Rahane stated whereas the bowling unit largely met expectations, the failure of three-four predominant batters derailed their marketing campaign. KKR’s season ended with a crushing 110-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad right here on Monday (May 26, 2025).
“It’s just that for us as a team, three-four guys were out of form. Where we faltered was at the batting end. As a batting unit, collectively, we couldn’t do well,” Rahane stated in the course of the post-match media interplay.
“Unfortunately, two-three players were going through that phase for us. And that was the reason we couldn’t do well…But again, they are pretty much experienced enough to handle this situation.
“I’m certain they may come back stronger subsequent 12 months…Rinku (Singh), Raman (Ramandeep Singh), all of the gamers, they may study from the errors and come back stronger.”
Venkatesh Iyer (average 20.28), Andre Russell (18.55), Rinku (29.42), and Ramandeep (9.40), who played key roles in KKR’s 2024 title triumph, failed to replicate their form this season, hurting the team’s prospects.
On Sunday (May 25, 2025), Sunrisers Hyderabad piled a massive 278/3 — the third-highest total in IPL history — on the back of Heinrich Klaasen’s 37-ball century, before bowling out KKR for 168.
However, earlier setbacks such as the loss to Punjab Kings, while chasing just 112, and a narrow four-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants while chasing 239, proved more damaging for KKR’s campaign.
They additionally had two rain-marred video games and finally ended up with 5 wins from 14 matches.
“See, this season, I believe for us, (it has been) type of an up and down. We had our moments. We had our possibilities and I stated that earlier additionally throughout these matches, as a unit, we did not play nicely, very well,” Rahane said.
“But once more, this format, that is the way it goes, you realize…the Punjab Kings sport, LSG sport and in addition the CSK sport, I believed these two-three video games might have been barely completely different.
“It’s not easy when you win a championship and, you know, come into the next season, defending the championship, it’s not that easy. As a team, we tried our best. What I can say is, we’ll come back really stronger next year.”
Rahane stated the strain of expectations could have affected the batters’ efficiency.
“When you have a couple of good seasons, as an individual, you put a lot of expectation on yourself. You put pressure on yourself. And I feel that was the case for most of the batters, to prove, you know, that how good I am. And it is completely natural.
“I’m certain our gamers, will study from the errors. It’s rather a lot to study from this season, as a staff. Not for any explicit particular person, however for everybody. So many learnings from this season.”
Published – May 27, 2025 06:22 am IST
