Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane expressed his disappointment and frustration following his team’s heartbreaking two-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a last-over thriller at Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The high-stakes clash proved to be a pivotal moment in KKR’s playoff aspirations, and despite a commendable fight from his bowlers, Rahane admitted that falling short with the bat ultimately cost them the game.
“It was really tough—a hard pill to swallow,” Rahane said during the post-match presentation. “We were 10-15 runs short. A total of 185-195 would have been ideal on this pitch.”
KKR posted 179/6 in their 20 overs after opting to bat first. Rahane led from the front with a solid 48-run knock, anchoring the innings while wickets fell around him. However, the team failed to fully capitalize on the start, with CSK’s bowlers, particularly Noor Ahmad, putting a choke on the scoring rate in the middle overs. Ahmad’s 4-wicket haul was instrumental in ensuring KKR couldn’t cross the 180-mark.
Though the total was competitive, KKR’s inability to prevent momentum-shifting overs proved decisive. A brutal 30-run over bowled by Vaibhav Arora—in which Dewald Brevis unleashed a flurry of boundaries—swung the momentum firmly in CSK’s favor.
“One Over Changed Everything”
Reflecting on the game-changing moment, Rahane acknowledged how quickly fortunes can flip in T20 cricket.
“Absolutely. In this format, one over can change the momentum of the match. That over from Arora really shifted the game. Brevis and Dube took their chances, and it paid off. It’s all about being brave, and they were really brave.”
While Brevis’s knock of 52 off 25 balls was the standout contribution, the finishing touches were applied by MS Dhoni, who turned back the clock with a vintage six off Andre Russell in the final over. MS Dhoni’s calm presence under pressure, combined with guidance for debutant Anshul Kamboj, ensured CSK crossed the finish line with two balls to spare.
Rahane: “Proud of the Bowlers”
Despite the loss, Rahane refused to blame his bowlers, who fought valiantly to defend a sub-par total. The likes of Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Andre Russell kept CSK under pressure through clever variations and tight lines.
“No complaints at all. The bowlers tried their best. We stayed in the game till the last over, and that says a lot about our character as a team.”
One key positive for KKR was the performance of Chakaravarthy, who not only picked up crucial wickets but showed composure under pressure—though he was later penalized by the BCCI for a Code of Conduct breach after an aggressive send-off to Brevis.
Focus Shifts to Final League Matches
With the defeat, KKR now find themselves in a precarious position on the points table. Their path to the playoffs has narrowed considerably, and they will need to win both of their remaining league games to stay in contention. Even then, qualification will depend on net run rate and results from other matches.
“Now it’s simple for us: win two out of two, and then see where we stand. That’s all we can do,” Ajinkya Rahane stated, maintaining a positive yet realistic outlook.
The skipper emphasized the need for clarity and composure moving forward, particularly in pressure situations that have repeatedly hurt the team throughout the season.
KKR fans will now be hoping for a strong finish and a bit of luck to keep the franchise alive in the tournament. As the league stage nears its conclusion, every match becomes a virtual knockout—both for teams on the edge like KKR and for others jockeying for playoff spots.
