Ajinkya Rahane stays firm on captaincy after Kolkata's exit: I never back down
Ajinkya Rahane defended his captaincy despite Kolkata Knight Riders crashing out of the tournament. KKR stayed alive until the last day before Rajasthan's win over Mumbai at the Wankhede knocked them out.
Ajinkya Rahane remained firm about his captaincy after Kolkata Knight Riders crashed out of IPL 2026. KKR’s playoff hopes officially ended on Sunday after Rajasthan Royals defeated Mumbai Indians in their final league match. The Knight Riders then slumped to a 40-run defeat against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens in an inconsequential fixture.
Rahane has faced a difficult run since succeeding Shreyas Iyer as KKR captain. In both the 2025 and 2026 seasons under his leadership, Kolkata failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Despite the disappointing campaign, Rahane stressed that character and attitude matter most during challenging phases, insisting he never backs down when the team is struggling and that strong leadership becomes even more important under pressure.
"For me, I've played cricket all my life with a good attitude. Character has always been very important for me. I'm never one to back down. When the team is down, when the team is struggling, it's very important to show your character at that time. I am never one that steps down. When the team is struggling, it is important to show your character,” Rahane said in the post-match press conference.
‘NOT EVERYONE CAN HANDLE PRESSURE’
Rahane also endured a disappointing campaign with the bat, scoring just 335 runs from 14 matches at an average of 25.76, including two half-centuries. Despite KKR’s struggles, Rahane admitted pressure is a natural part of cricket and stressed the importance of staying calm and avoiding panic during difficult phases.
"Yes, there's pressure. It's very natural but the pressure is on those who are privileged. Not everyone can handle the pressure. For me, it was important to stay strong and not panic. It's very easy when you lose 5-6 matches, your focus shifts to the past and the future,” Rahane added.
The Kolkata Knight Riders endured a dreadful start to their campaign, failing to register a win in their first six matches. However, they gradually fought their way back into contention and remained alive in the playoff race until the final day of the league stage. In the end, KKR finished seventh on the table with 13 points and a net run rate of -0.147 after managing six wins from 14 matches.
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