Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has hit back at criticism surrounding his strike rate, suggesting that a section of analysts and fans are pushing a biased narrative against him. The experienced batter, who has reinvented his T20 approach in recent seasons, believes that his performances are often judged through a preconceived lens rather than actual impact.
Rahane’s comments came after KKR’s heavy 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he managed just 8 runs off 10 balls in a steep chase of 227. While the innings drew attention, Rahane was quick to defend both his intent and overall record in the format.
“I think I have one of the best strike rates so far from 2023,” Ajinkya Rahane said in the post-match interaction. “People who are talking about me are probably not watching the game or they have a certain agenda against me. They don’t like me playing. They don’t like to watch me play.”
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The KKR skipper didn’t hold back further, addressing the criticism head-on. “The amount of success which I got, I guess they are jealous of me. I am not too worried,” he added. “You guys know what I am doing. Just one innings where I couldn’t find rhythm doesn’t define anything. My intent was there, but sometimes you don’t get that flow as a batter.”
🚨 Ajinkya Rahane hits back at critics 🚨
“They’re just jealous of my success.” 💥
Rahane’s message is simple — the people criticizing him don’t really understand the game, and their negativity comes from jealousy.
— JB (@93Yorker) April 3, 2026
Despite maintaining a solid strike rate during the Powerplay phase since 2023, Rahane’s scoring tempo has often dipped once field restrictions are lifted—a point frequently highlighted by critics. However, the veteran believes expectations around his game are often misplaced.
“They didn’t expect that Ajinkya Rahane will prove his game like this,” he said. “I am happy people are talking about me, whether negative or positive. Let them talk.”
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KKR’s struggles continued as they were bowled out for 161, falling well short of the target and marking another disappointing outing. With back-to-back defeats, including a recent loss to Mumbai Indians, Rahane’s side will now look to bounce back against Punjab Kings on April 6.
