Rahane factors to batting failures in KKR’s poor IPL end, vows to come back again stronger

Ajinkya Rahane stated underwhelming batting performances by key gamers like Rinku Singh and Andre Russell, was the primary motive for the defending champions’ disappointing eighth-place end this IPL season. File
| Photograph Credit score: AP

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane stated underwhelming batting performances by key gamers like Rinku Singh and Andre Russell, was the primary motive for the defending champions’ disappointing eighth-place end this IPL season.

Rahane stated whereas the bowling unit largely met expectations, the failure of three-four predominant batters derailed their marketing campaign. KKR’s season ended with a crushing 110-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad right here on Monday (Could 26, 2025).

“It is simply that for us as a group, three-four guys have been off form. The place we faltered was on the batting finish. As a batting unit, collectively, we could not do properly,” Rahane stated in the course of the post-match media interplay.

“Sadly, two-three gamers have been going via that section for us. And that was the rationale we could not do properly…However once more, they’re just about skilled sufficient to deal with this case.

“I am positive they’ll come again stronger subsequent 12 months…Rinku (Singh), Raman (Ramandeep Singh), all of the gamers, they’ll study from the errors and are available again stronger.”

Venkatesh Iyer (common 20.28), Andre Russell (18.55), Rinku (29.42), and Ramandeep (9.40), who performed key roles in KKR’s 2024 title triumph, failed to copy their type this season, hurting the group’s prospects.

On Sunday (Could 25, 2025), Sunrisers Hyderabad piled an enormous 278/3 — the third-highest complete in IPL historical past — on the again of Heinrich Klaasen’s 37-ball century, earlier than bowling out KKR for 168.

Nevertheless, earlier setbacks such because the loss to Punjab Kings, whereas chasing simply 112, and a slender four-run defeat to Lucknow Tremendous Giants whereas chasing 239, proved extra damaging for KKR’s marketing campaign.

In addition they had two rain-marred video games and finally ended up with 5 wins from 14 matches.

“See, this season, I believe for us, (it has been) type of an up and down. We had our moments. We had our possibilities and I stated that earlier additionally throughout these matches, as a unit, we did not play properly, very well,” Rahane stated.

“However once more, this format, that is the way it goes, you realize…the Punjab Kings recreation, LSG recreation and likewise the CSK recreation, I assumed these two-three video games may have been barely totally different.

“It isn’t straightforward if you win a championship and, you realize, come into the following season, defending the championship, it isn’t that straightforward. As a group, we tried our greatest. What I can say is, we’ll come again actually stronger subsequent 12 months.”

Rahane stated the stress of expectations might have affected the batters’ efficiency.

“When you’ve a few good seasons, as a person, you place a number of expectation on your self. You place stress on your self. And I really feel that was the case for many of the batters, to show, you realize, that how good I’m. And it’s fully pure.

“I am positive our gamers, will study from the errors. It is quite a bit to study from this season, as a group. Not for any specific particular person, however for everybody. So many learnings from this season.”