Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane said the focus after their IPL 2026 defeat to Gujarat Titans should remain on the positives, despite another setback extending KKR’s winless stretch. Chasing a target of 180, GT reached it with five wickets to spare, with Shubman Gill playing a composed innings of 86. For KKR, the chase was made difficult early as Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj struck in the powerplay, while Cameron Green’s 79 off 55 balls was the clearest bright spot as KKR posted a fighting total.
What happened in the match
- KKR were restricted early after Gujarat Titans’ bowlers put pressure on their top order.
- Kagiso Rabada recorded 3 wickets for 29 runs, while Mohammed Siraj struck for 2 for 23, leaving KKR struggling at 37 for 3 during the powerplay.
- Cameron Green then took responsibility with a counter-attacking knock, scoring 79 off 55 balls to keep KKR in the contest.
- Despite Green’s stand, KKR still fell short of setting a fully imposing score, finishing with a total that proved tough—but not impossible—to defend.
- Gujarat Titans chased the 180-run target successfully, winning with five wickets in hand.
- Shubman Gill led the pursuit with an elegant 86, as GT maintained control after the early momentum.
After the loss, Rahane reflected on how difficult it is to respond immediately after defeat, but underlined that KKR should draw encouragement from the manner in which they fought with the bat. He highlighted the early phase and the way Green changed the tempo. “I just want to talk positives, especially the way we started two or three wickets down. Cameron Green’s innings—the kind of counter-attack he did was amazing to see,” Rahane said.
Rahane also credited KKR’s bowling group for remaining competitive through the final stages, even though the target around 180 was not an easy one to defend. “Around 180 was slightly difficult from a batting unit, but credit to all our bowlers, the way they bowled, taking the game till the last over,” he added.
One key clarification from Rahane came regarding why Cameron Green did not bowl. The captain explained that the batter was dealing with cramps. “He was actually struggling with his cramps. That’s the reason he was in and out on the field as well. So that’s the reason he didn’t bowl,” Rahane confirmed.
Rahane further acknowledged Gujarat’s edge in the chase, particularly Gill’s innings. He noted that KKR had needed early wickets in the powerplay but were unable to execute that plan effectively, allowing the opposition to settle and build from there.
With the defeat, KKR remain at the bottom of the standings and are still searching for their first win of the season.
