Kamal Ghorui
Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane struck a balanced tone after his side’s defeat to Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, where KKR’s winless run continued despite a strong fight with the bat led by Cameron Green. GT chased down 180 with five wickets in hand, powered by Shubman Gill’s elegant 86. Earlier, Kagiso Rabada (3/29) and Mohammed Siraj (2/23) had dismantled KKR’s top order, leaving them at 37 for 3 in the powerplay. Cameron Green’s counter-attacking 79 off 55 balls stood out as the lone bright spot for KKR, helping them reach a competitive total. Speaking after the match, Rahane admitted that it is never easy to come straight after a loss, but insisted on highlighting the positives from KKR’s effort with the bat. “I just want to talk positives, especially the way we started two-three wickets down. Cameron Green’s innings… the kind of counter-attack he did was amazing to see,” he said. He also praised the bowling unit for fighting till the end despite defending a below-par total. “Around 180 was slightly difficult from a batting unit, but credit to all our bowlers, the way they bowled, taking the game till the last over,” Rahane added. The main clarification came when Rahane explained Cameron Green’s absence with the ball. “He was actually struggling with his cramps. That’s the reason he was in and out on the field as well. So that’s the reason he didn’t bowl,” he confirmed. Rahane also acknowledged GT’s dominance, especially Gill’s innings, noting that KKR needed early wickets in the powerplay but failed to execute. With this loss, KKR remain bottom of the table, still searching for their first win of the season.
