Kolkata Knight Riders’ campaign has continued to stall, with a fifth loss in six outings leaving the franchise searching for its first win of the tournament. Pre-season disruption from injuries only compounded the problem, and once again the team looked short on intensity in both disciplines. With batting and bowling failing to create meaningful pressure, senior contributors such as Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh have not been able to make the kind of impact expected. The one bright moment came from Cameron Green, whose 79 gave KKR a platform and threatened to change the rhythm of the contest on Thursday, but the absence of support from the other end ultimately proved decisive.
Key takeaways
- KKR’s winless run extended after their fifth defeat in six matches.
- Cameron Green’s 79 provided the main resistance in KKR’s effort.
- Ajinkya Rahane highlighted positives despite the loss to Gujarat Titans.
- Rahane said KKR’s bowlers leaked runs in the powerplay, and he pointed to the opposition openers’ quality rather than making excuses.
- Green did not bowl because he was managing cramps.
- Rahane urged the squad to stay focused on the process and “be in the moment”.
Rahane’s reaction after the Gujarat Titans defeat
Ajinkya Rahane appeared visibly disappointed following KKR’s loss to Gujarat Titans. Struggling to put the defeat into words, he said, “It’s never easy to talk about the game after losing,” capturing the mood in the dressing room after another tough result.
Despite the disappointment, the KKR captain shifted his emphasis to the aspects he felt were working, particularly praising Cameron Green’s response after an uneven start. Rahane underlined that the innings had been in trouble early, but Green managed to lift the tempo and keep KKR’s chase or total within reach, and he added that the bowling group deserved credit for continuing to push the opposition deep into the finish.
Rahane summed up the mindset and the performance in that stretch by saying, “I want to talk about the positives. The way we started with two or three wickets down, the way Green started was amazing. From 147 for 4 to 180 was slightly difficult. But credit to all our bowlers for the way they bowled. They took it to the last over.”
Powerplay criticism and praise for Gill & Sudharsan
Rahane also addressed the bowling phase, specifically the runs conceded during the powerplay. He did not offer reasons tied to conditions like the dew, instead pointing to the quality of the Gujarat Titans top order, naming Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan as the key factors behind the strong start.
He said, “Gill batted really well. There was slight dew as well, but no excuses. Sai Sudharsan and Gill batted really well. I just wanted to talk positive stuff,” reflecting both respect for the opposition and clarity about KKR’s shortcomings.
Why Green didn’t bowl and Rahane’s final message
There was also an explanation around Cameron Green’s role in the second innings. Although Green had starred with the bat for Kolkata Knight Riders, he did not come out to bowl. Ajinkya Rahane later clarified that the Australian all-rounder was dealing with cramps, which affected whether he could complete his bowling duties.
Rahane explained, “Green was struggling with his cramps, that’s the reason he was on and off the field today, and that’s the reason he didn’t bowl.”
Rahane closed on a composed note, stressing the importance of staying present and backing the team’s overall approach even after another setback. “It’s all about being in the moment. Just need to enjoy our game and back ourselves. That’s what we wanted to do today,” he added.
