Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders, was full of enthusiasm and pride as he reflected on his team’s impressive comeback following their batting collapse in their previous match against Mumbai. KKR registered a commanding 80-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, marking their second win of the tournament and providing them with a much-needed morale boost. The emphatic win also helped improve their net run rate, which could be a deciding factor in the later stages of the competition. After their struggles in Mumbai, KKR made the necessary adjustments and demonstrated a well-thought-out approach, using the conditions to their advantage and batting smartly to post a challenging total of 201 runs.
Despite losing their openers early, the middle and lower-order batters played with composure and executed their plans efficiently. The team built a strong foundation, ensuring they could unleash an aggressive attack in the final overs. The last four overs proved to be game-changing, as KKR managed to score a staggering 66 runs, taking the game away from SRH. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rahane stressed the significance of this victory, especially given the substantial margin. He pointed out that such a big win not only helped in the points table but also gave the players a much-needed confidence boost after their batting woes in the previous game. Rahane was particularly pleased with the way his team approached the innings, striking a balance between aggression and calculated shot selection.
"This game was really important for us. Winning by a big margin was crucial. Even we wanted to bowl on this wicket, but when we lost two early wickets, the idea was to consolidate till the powerplay ended. We wanted to play with intent, but at the same time, we wanted to play proper cricketing shots," said Rahane.
He further explained that the team’s strategy revolved around keeping wickets in hand so that the explosive lower order could maximize the scoring potential in the death overs. He was thrilled with the way the batting unit responded under pressure, particularly after their underwhelming performances in the last two matches. "The last two games were not up to the mark for us. But we learned a lot from our mistakes. This game serves as a great example for us as a batting unit,” Rahane added.
Rahane also elaborated on the importance of playing sensibly in the first 15 overs before launching an all-out attack in the final five overs. His partnership with young talent Angkrish Raghuvanshi, which yielded 81 runs, was crucial in bringing stability to the innings. Once they had laid a solid foundation, the finishers, including Rinku Singh and Venkatesh Iyer, were able to capitalize and push the total past the 200-run mark. Rahane praised the power hitters waiting in the dugout, including Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, and Moeen Ali, who were ready to go big if needed.
Rahane was equally impressed with his bowling unit, which executed their plans to perfection and dismantled the SRH batting lineup efficiently. He noted that the surface was assisting slower bowlers, which allowed KKR’s spinners—Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy—to dictate terms. Even though Moeen Ali didn’t get to bowl in this match, the pacers, including Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana, stepped up and made crucial contributions, ensuring SRH never got a chance to build momentum.
"Initially, we thought 170-180 would be a good total on this surface. Slower balls were gripping, and we had three quality spinners. Moeen, unfortunately, couldn't bowl tonight, but Sunny (Narine) and Varun bowled really well. Full credit goes to Vaibhav and Harshit as well. They showed great composure and executed the plans brilliantly," Rahane stated.
With this victory, KKR has sent a strong message to the other teams in the competition. The ability to bounce back from setbacks and execute well under pressure is a sign of a team that is growing stronger with each game. Rahane’s leadership, combined with the team’s adaptability, was on full display, and KKR will now look to maintain this momentum as they head into their upcoming matches. The win not only secured them crucial points but also reinforced the belief that they have the depth and talent to go deep into the tournament.
