IPL 2026, KKR vs SRH: Ajinkya Rahane hints at change in KKR combination after rocky IPL start

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane has hinted at a possible change in the team combination after the three-time champions suffered back-to-back defeats in IPL 2026. On Thursday, April 2, KKR slumped to a 65-run loss against Ishan Kishan’s Sunrisers Hyderabad at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Rahane suggested that KKR might consider including an extra batter after the team collapsed to 161 in just 16 overs while chasing a massive target of 227. The fact that Cameron Green hasn’t bowled yet in the IPL has made it harder for the Knight Riders to settle their combination.

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“Yes, absolutely. I mean, winning a game, home game is really important. So, we’ll have to just go back in the drawing room, just think about our combination. If we can get extra batter in our lineup, we’ll have to think about that. But again, we got 3-4 days. We don’t want to think too much,” Rahane said after the match.

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If Green starts bowling, the Knight Riders could consider adding an extra batter to their line-up, whether it’s Manish Pandey or Rahul Tripathi.

NEED FOR PARTNERSHIPS

Rahane, who managed just eight runs off 10 balls, said that a lack of partnerships cost the Knight Riders dearly in their run chase. He added that KKR’s batting can improve if the team approaches the game with a positive mindset and greater situational awareness.

“I think guys are doing really well. Just one off day with the bat. Last game we did really well. We just needed those small partnerships. I think if the batters can have that positive mindset and this extra awareness while batting, I think we’ll be fine,” Rahane added.

With the defeat, the Knight Riders slipped to ninth in the points table, carrying a net run rate of -1.964. This marks the first time since 2012 that KKR have begun the IPL with back-to-back losses.

The Knight Riders will look to bounce back when they face Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings on Monday, April 6, at Eden Gardens.

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