New Chandigarh, April 16 (NationPress) Following a narrow 16-run defeat against Punjab Kings in a low-scoring clash, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed that the setback was not merely due to the remarkable bowling from the opposition but also attributed to his team's disappointing batting performance.

Punjab Kings managed to defend a modest score of 111, dismissing KKR for a mere 95 in 15.1 overs. Yuzvendra Chahal shone with impressive figures of 4 for 28 in his four overs, while Marco Jansen contributed significantly with 3 for 17, and Arshdeep Singh and Glenn Maxwell each claimed a wicket.

In his post-match reflections, the KKR captain stated, "The wicket was good, despite the ball stopping a bit. Our bowlers did well to restrict them to 111, accomplishing half the job. Chasing 112 on this pitch was relatively straightforward, especially after our initial start. It wasn’t that Punjab Kings bowled exceptionally; we simply did not bat effectively."

Rahane also emphasized the lessons learned from the game, expressing confidence in his team's ability to bounce back in their upcoming match. "We are halfway through the tournament with seven matches left in the league stage. It’s crucial to return with the right intent while continuously learning and enhancing our batting skills for the next game," he added.

As KKR reaches the midpoint of their league matches, they have secured three victories thus far. However, Rahane stressed the importance of the batting unit learning to secure results in challenging scenarios.

"It's not about hitting sixes every time to boost the net run rate. This wasn’t a flat wicket; bowlers had some assistance. We needed to battle it out. Sometimes, you might need to play a maiden over in T20 cricket or maintain a strike rate of 70-80, and that’s acceptable. But it’s essential to grind it out.

"T20 cricket isn’t solely about hitting sixes, despite many players aiming for big shots. It’s about understanding the situation and having the game awareness as a batter to advance the game. That’s what we lacked today," he concluded.

With seven matches left in the league stage for KKR, the captain reassured that complacency is not an option in this seasoned squad. "All players are confident and experienced enough to handle any scenario. I wouldn’t suggest we were complacent or taking things lightly. We simply did not bat well and lacked the awareness to adapt to the situation, but we will learn from this experience," he wrapped up.