Ajinkya Rahane brushed aside criticism around his batting after leading from the front for Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2026 opener against Mumbai Indians. The KKR captain said he is not looking to prove anything to anyone, insisting he is satisfied with his current form.
Rahane’s comments came after a fluent knock at the Wankhede Stadium, where he scored 67 off 40 balls to anchor KKR’s innings. Despite their six-wicket loss, the veteran set the tone on a batting-friendly surface as KKR posted a strong 220 for 4.
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“Let people talk about me — they’ve been talking about me for, what, 20 years now. Let them talk. I’m really happy with the way I’m batting at the moment. I’m not here to show anyone how talented I am or what my game is. People are watching — let them watch, let them talk,” Rahane said in the post-match press conference.
“But I’m really happy with how I’ve improved my game in white-ball cricket, especially in the T20 format, over the last two or three years. It’s important to grow as a cricketer and as a batsman, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do. So, let them talk.”
Rahane’s innings, which included three fours and five sixes, was well supported by Angkrish Raghuvanshi (51) and Finn Allen (37 off 17), ensuring KKR maintained a strong scoring rate throughout. However, his effort was not enough as MI chased down the target comfortably.
The knock comes in the backdrop of scrutiny around Rahane’s leadership, following KKR’s eighth-place finish in IPL 2025 despite him being the side’s top scorer with 390 runs.
IS AJINKYA RAHANE’S INJURY SERIOUS?
There was a moment of concern for KKR when Rahane walked off the field during MI’s chase after experiencing cramps.
The KKR captain, however, downplayed the issue, confirming that it was not serious after receiving treatment from the team physios. His early exit from the field was precautionary rather than a sign of any major injury concern.
Rahane’s fitness will be closely monitored ahead of KKR’s upcoming fixtures, but the initial signs suggest no long-term setback for the captain.
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