Ajinkya Rahane said he was proud of Kolkata Knight Riders’ fighting spirit even after their IPL 2026 campaign ended with a 40-run loss to Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens on Sunday. In the chase, Rahane struck a fluent 63 off 39 balls, but the innings couldn’t gain enough momentum to overhaul the target. The KKR skipper also acknowledged that the pitch looked awkward to start with.
Quick facts
- Kolkata Knight Riders were defeated by Delhi Capitals by 40 runs at Eden Gardens on Sunday.
- Ajinkya Rahane scored 63 off 39 balls during KKR’s chase.
- KKR finished 7th in IPL 2026, winning 6 of their 14 matches.
- KKR’s playoff hopes were ended earlier in the day due to Rajasthan Royals beating Mumbai Indians.
Speaking after the match, Rahane explained how he tried to manage the early phase while keeping the chase moving. He felt the wicket behaved a little unpredictably at the beginning, and once he settled in, he looked to make his partnership count. Rahane said he understood the need for one batter to get through, while also focusing on strike rotation throughout his innings.
“Yeah, I mean, the wicket was a little tricky at the start. I was batting really well and knew one batter had to go through, so I tried to take my chances. I was actually looking to target strike rotation as well,” Rahane said following the contest. His remarks reflected an innings shaped by both timing and tactical planning, even as the required run rate kept pressure on the middle overs.
Rahane then turned to the bigger picture of KKR’s season. He pointed out that the team had a difficult start, yet still showed a strong response later in the tournament. While their overall outcome was disappointing, he felt the squad displayed the right mental approach after those early setbacks.
KKR had struggled badly in the first half of the season, but a late surge kept their playoff chances alive for a period. That momentum, however, was not enough. Earlier on the day, Rajasthan Royals’ victory over Mumbai Indians officially ruled KKR out of contention even before they played Delhi Capitals.
Rahane admitted that missing the playoffs was tough to digest, but he insisted the mood inside the dressing room stayed upbeat. He highlighted how difficult it is to recover in a long tournament like the IPL, where momentum swings can happen quickly and pressure is constant. Still, he believed the team’s attitude never collapsed.
“In the first half of the season there were key moments where we were losing out, but after that, coming back from there is never easy. IPL is a long tournament with a lot of pressure and high-pressure situations,” Rahane said. He added that the players remained united and encouraged each other despite the mounting challenges across matches.
“But again, staying strong, having that character and attitude in every game and trying your best for the team – inside the dressing room we all were really happy. This season didn’t go our way and we didn’t qualify, which is disappointing, but I’m really proud of everyone and the kind of effort we put in,” he added. For Rahane, the defining takeaway was the resilience shown after the early phase of the campaign.
What’s next for KKR after IPL
With the league stage complete and the season over, Rahane outlined how the group will spend the immediate break. He said players have personal commitments to attend to, after which they are expected to regroup virtually for discussions about the future. The captain suggested calls and online meetings will help the squad plan their next steps.
He also shared his own schedule post-IPL. Rahane said he doesn’t plan to stay away from cricket for long and will soon return to action in Mumbai’s local league. For him, the next few days are about rest and then getting back on the field.
“I think at the moment the guys have their commitments. We’ll just go off to our homes, probably take some time off and then obviously we’ll probably connect over calls or Zoom and have discussions moving forward,” Rahane said. He continued, “For me, just a couple of days off. I’m going to play my local league in Mumbai, which I’m really looking forward to. I’m happy as long as I’m playing cricket. So yes, a couple of days off and then back to cricket.”
