Rahane: ‘When the team is struggling, it is important to show your character’
A Season of Heavy Blows and Ultimate Resilience
The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) entered the IPL 2026 season with high hopes and a heavily reconstructed squad. After emerging as the biggest spenders at the late 2025 auction, they seemed primed for a deep run. However, the unforgiving nature of the tournament soon caught up with them. A cascade of injuries coupled with the forced departure of pace spearhead Mustafizur Rahman decimated their roster. The team suffered a brutal stretch, losing six straight completed matches and finding themselves at their absolute lowest point.
The Leadership of Ajinkya Rahane
In times of acute crisis, KKR had the ideal leader at the helm. Ajinkya Rahane is no stranger to guiding teams through severe adversity. Cricket fans will easily recall his historic stint as India’s Test captain in Australia, where he revived a side shattered by a 36-all-out disaster. Under his calm stewardship, a heavily depleted Indian team, barely able to cobble together eleven fit players, completed a miraculous series turnaround. Rahane noted that the similarities between that legendary Australian campaign and KKR’s IPL 2026 struggle were hard to ignore. For him, the core objective remained simple: the team had to stay together, no matter the external noise.
Drama on the Final Day of the League Stage
This philosophy of unity was put to the ultimate test on the final day of the league stage. KKR faced the Delhi Capitals (DC) in a must-win scenario, entirely unaware of the drama unfolding concurrently at the Wankhede Stadium, where the Rajasthan Royals (RR) were playing the Mumbai Indians (MI). Rahane revealed that the squad had made a conscious decision to block out all real-time updates from the other match to keep their focus entirely on their own game.
It was only after Delhi Capitals finished their innings—setting KKR a daunting target of 202 runs to win—that the players learned of Rajasthan’s victory. The result officially confirmed KKR’s elimination from playoff contention before their run chase even commenced. Dejected but committed to finishing strong, KKR battled on but were eventually bowled out for 163, concluding their campaign in seventh place on the points table.
Silver Linings: The Rise of Kartik Tyagi and Anukul Roy
Despite the disappointing finish, Rahane maintained that the season was a valuable breeding ground for future stars. He recalled his comments from the season-opening press conference, where he had labeled IPL 2026 as a season of opportunities. The biggest positives for the franchise moving forward are undoubtedly Kartik Tyagi and Anukul Roy, both of whom seized their chances with both hands.
Kartik Tyagi enjoyed a stellar campaign, finishing with 18 wickets—the third-highest tally among all Indian bowlers in the league stage. Meanwhile, Anukul Roy proved his utility by claiming nine wickets in 12 innings during his first full IPL season, while also remaining unbeaten in two successful run-chases.
Reflecting on their impact, Rahane expressed immense pride: “When we sat down [at the start of the season], I thought, this is a great time for Anukul to come in and play each and every game. He had a fantastic Syed Mushtaq Ali season. I believe that whoever has a good season in the domestic league, you carry that confidence forward. Anukul Roy just did that.”
Rahane was equally praiseful of Tyagi’s clarity of mind: “Talking about Kartik Tyagi, he was clear. We played practice games – two, three practice matches – [and] practice sessions as well. He was really clear about his thought process. You will go for runs as a bowler but as long as you’re clear what you want to do for your team, that’s what matters. For these two guys, this is just the beginning. I’m sure they have the potential to do really well in the future and go and play at the highest level as well.”
Standing Firm Under Pressure
Given KKR’s mid-season slump, many wondered if Rahane had considered stepping down as captain to allow for a tactical reset—a path previously taken by prominent figures like Dinesh Karthik, Ricky Ponting, and Gautam Gambhir. However, Rahane’s cricketing philosophy is built on a different foundation.
Addressing these speculations, Rahane spoke passionately about his duty to the badge: “As cricketers, we are what we are because of our fans. They appreciate when we do well and criticise when we don’t. This is part of the game and all cricketers understand this. For me, I have played my whole cricket with the right attitude. Character has always been very important for me. I am never one that steps down. When the team is struggling, it is important to show your character.”
He acknowledged that leading a struggling team brings immense mental pressure, but viewed it as a privilege. “Pressure does come, yes, it is very natural. Pressure comes to the privileged. When you lose five-six matches, your mind goes to the past and future, but it is important to stay in that moment. Things can turn around anytime. I told the players after losing six games that it just takes one game to change things around; the most important thing for the team is to believe and keep doing what we are doing.”
The turning point for KKR came after a long, timely break before their first victory of the season against the Rajasthan Royals. Rahane admitted that the break allowed the squad to accept their shortcomings, make necessary adjustments, and recharge their mental batteries after some substandard performances.
Looking Ahead to IPL 2027
While discussions regarding IPL 2027 are inevitable, Rahane insisted that it is far too early to map out the next cycle. Instead, the veteran leader chose to focus on the immense pride he felt for his squad’s fighting spirit during a highly challenging campaign.
“Players hardly get to experience this kind of comeback, the kind of comeback we did – came so far – from those seven games onwards,” Rahane concluded. “Hats off to each and every one. There’s lots to learn. Yes, you always feel bad when you don’t qualify for the playoffs, and every team wants to be in the top four. But for me, as a leader of the team, I’m really proud of the boys, how they handled themselves.”
