Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane has urged calm following his team’s heavy defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their IPL opener, affirming faith in his squad despite a disappointing batting performance.
KKR, under their new captain, started strongly but faltered midway, finishing at 174/8—a target RCB comfortably chased down with 22 balls to spare at Eden Gardens on Saturday.
A game-changing spell by left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya turned the tide in RCB’s favour, exposing KKR’s middle-order struggles.
At the post-match press conference, Rahane said he saw no reason for concern, backing his side’s aggressive approach.
“This is our first game of the season and the batting line-up or the team which we have, we have guys who like to go after the ball. I don't want to pinpoint on certain things. As a team, I thought, in a few areas we did really well. There're always areas we can improve as a team, as an individual,” he said.
Despite the middle-order faltering, Rahane expressed full confidence in his batters.
“Because guys who got out in the middle overs, they actually did well for us, for this franchise in the past. So, I'm going to back them. They tried to play their game tonight. It didn't work out, but it's okay,” he remarked.
Middle-order dilemma and Rinku Singh’s batting position
One of the talking points was Rinku Singh’s position at No. 6, with KKR opting for Impact Sub Angkrish Raghuvanshi ahead of him.
Addressing the move, Rahane said, “Rinku has been batting really well for KKR and also for the Indian team. Especially in this shorter format, he has been doing really well. The talks, as you mentioned, sending Rinku up the order."
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He added, "Yes, we are thinking about it. But sometimes you have to play with certain situations. And you have to see who is actually better in that particular situation. We thought Angkrish was the better option because we had around 10-11 overs when Angkrish went in. But we will see him bat up the order.”
Concerns over KKR’s pace attack
KKR’s bowling attack, particularly their pace unit, looked underwhelming in the absence of South African speedster Anrich Nortje, who remains sidelined with a back injury. Spencer Johnson, Vaibhav Arora, and Harshit Rana all conceded runs at high economy rates, with Johnson leaking at 13-plus runs per over.
Rahane, however, remained optimistic, stating, "We don't need to panic or we don't need to think too much. It's a tough sport for fast bowlers, especially for the bowlers. They are trying hard. They are working hard. And for me, it's always about controlling the controllables. Again, guys who are sitting on the bench, they are equally good. But we have to actually see the combination, what combination we can go with.”
Andre Russell’s fitness and spin-friendly conditions
The KKR skipper dismissed concerns over Andre Russell’s fitness, despite the all-rounder not bowling in the match.
"He is absolutely fit. You are not going to use all the weapons in one game. We have five frontline bowlers. They are wicket takers," Rahane clarified.
The Eden Gardens pitch also posed a challenge for KKR’s famed spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, as the conditions did not favour turn.
“We would love to see that, you know. It's helping our spin bowlers. But again, this wicket was undercover, for one and a half days...(Josh) Hazlewood used the condition really well. We would love to see some spin on this wicket. But again, no complaints. Both the spinners which we have, their quality, they can bowl on any kind of wicket," Rahane maintained.
Hazlewood relishes IPL return after injury setbacks
Meanwhile, Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood made an impactful return to competitive cricket, delivering a tight 2/22 to help RCB secure victory. Having struggled with injuries over the past year, the 34-year-old expressed satisfaction with his performance.
“Yeah, I feel pretty good. I feel like I got through the game very well. You know, it helps only having to bowl four overs,” Hazlewood remarked.
Acknowledging the demanding nature of the IPL, he noted that the shorter bowling spells worked to his advantage.
“I know the intensity is through the roof, but to only bowl four overs is good for me at the moment. But yeah, I feel like I'll just keep building throughout the tournament. And I think this is probably the freshest I've been in a long time,” Hazlewood added.
Hazlewood also reflected on his extended absence from cricket due to injuries.
“I haven't played since I think it was late December, mid-December. So, the body is feeling fresh. I've done a lot of work off the field to get back to this point, which was tough. But yeah, I think mentally and physically I'm refreshed. So, hopefully that holds me in good stead, not only for the next few months, but moving forward after that. So, yeah, things are good,” he concluded.
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