Rahane "Proud" of KKR Despite Winless IPL 2026 Start After Fourth Straight Defeat

Ajinkya Rahane, captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, expressed pride in his team’s performance despite their continued winless run in the 2026 Indian Premier League season. KKR suffered a narrow three-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants, marking their third loss in four matches and extending a difficult start to their campaign.

Batting first at Eden Gardens, KKR posted a competitive total of 181/4 in 20 overs, with Rahane contributing 41 runs. He was supported by Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who scored 45, and Rovman Powell, who remained unbeaten on 39. The total was considered challenging, particularly on a slow pitch that appeared to favour the bowlers during key phases of the match.

Despite their strong total, KKR were unable to defend it as LSG completed the chase in dramatic fashion. Mukul Chaudhary played a decisive role, scoring an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls to guide his team to victory. His aggressive batting in the final overs turned the game around, especially when LSG needed 30 runs from the last two overs.

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Reflecting on the loss, Rahane acknowledged the disappointment but highlighted the team’s overall effort. He credited Mukul for his match-winning innings, noting that the young batter’s fearless approach under pressure made the difference. Rahane also admitted that execution lapses in the final overs proved costly, even though some deliveries were well bowled.

The KKR skipper further explained the challenges of defending a target on that surface, stating that a score of around 180 was not easy to protect given the conditions and fielding restrictions. He added that the team’s strategy in the final over was to keep Avesh Khan on strike, but the situation remained difficult for the bowlers due to field placement constraints.

Despite the setback, Rahane maintained a positive outlook, emphasising that the team’s performances have been competitive and that only small margins have separated them from victory. With no wins so far this season, KKR will now look to regroup quickly as they prepare to face Chennai Super Kings in their next match on April 14.

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