What Went Wrong for KKR in IPL 2025? Rahane Reflects

New Delhi, May 26 (NationPress) Analyzing a season’s failures is never straightforward, particularly after a significant defeat in an IPL match. However, Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), took the initiative to discuss the shortcomings that led to their disappointing season, culminating in a heavy 110-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Rahane acknowledged that the batting lineup's persistent inconsistency, particularly due to 2-3 players not performing at their best, severely impacted their overall performance. This was underscored by Rahane's achievement as KKR's top run-scorer in IPL 2025, accumulating 390 runs from 13 games. The second-highest run-scorer was Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who managed 300 runs in 12 games.

“Sometimes, after a few successful seasons, players put immense pressure on themselves to perform. I believe this was true for many of our batters trying to prove their capabilities, which is entirely natural. As human beings, we often have those expectations from ourselves and from others,” Rahane noted.

“I’m confident our players will learn from this season's mistakes. There are numerous lessons for the team, not just individuals. Unfortunately, we had 2-3 players experiencing a rough phase, which hindered our batting performance as a unit,” he added during the post-match press conference.

There was a notion that Rahane should have opened the batting for KKR, given his effectiveness in that role for Mumbai when he became the top scorer in the 2024/25 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, amassing 469 runs in eight innings at a remarkable strike rate of 164.

However, due to Sunil Narine's successful opening role in their IPL 2024 victory and Quinton de Kock being a specialist opener, Rahane explained why he and Raghuvanshi took on middle-order positions. It's noteworthy that despite various adjustments, KKR struggled to achieve a fifty-run opening partnership.

“We had discussions about the batting order. For me, it’s always about the team. I could have easily requested to open, but we had to consider the best combination for the team. I believed Angkrish and I could adapt to multiple situations, including batting at 3-4. Sunny had a stellar season last year, and we wanted to maintain that,” Rahane clarified.

“With Quinton being an opener, we felt it was best for Angkrish and me to occupy the 3 and 4 positions. We are discussing these strategies because things didn’t go our way, which made a difference,” he continued.

Rahane expressed his desire to open, stating, “If you ask me, I would love to open. I performed well in the Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but it’s always about what the team needs and the combinations we have.”

Prior to the tournament, there was significant interest in how Venkatesh Iyer would perform for KKR, especially after the franchise secured his services for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore in the previous auction. Despite being named KKR’s vice-captain, Iyer struggled with only 142 runs in 11 innings and suffered a hand injury. Rahane dismissed the notion that Iyer was overwhelmed by the pressure of his price tag.

“Whether a player earns 20 crores or 1-4 crores, their attitude on the field remains unchanged, which is what truly matters. Venkatesh Iyer focused on the controllable aspects. He practiced diligently and aimed to contribute, even before his injury,” Rahane explained.

“The issue was that a few players were out of form, which is why we struggled this year. A player doesn’t exert double the effort because of a hefty price tag; it’s about our mindset and attitude. I believe his attitude was exemplary, and he consistently sought to assist the team on and off the field. It's merely one of those seasons that can occur,” he elaborated.

While the batters failed to perform cohesively, Rahane commended the bowlers for their overall performance, despite being challenged by SRH's batters, who posted a colossal 278/3. Varun Chakravarthy and Vaibhav Arora both took 17 wickets, while seam-bowling all-rounder Harshit Rana secured 15 wickets.

“Our bowlers had a mixed performance. Harshit excelled, and he has been impressive for both the franchise and the Indian team. Adapting to the high-intensity games can be challenging, and while it’s not an excuse, it’s a reality players face,” Rahane shared.

“Varun performed well in the Champions Trophy, a high-pressure tournament, which can take a toll on both the body and mind. Overall, our bowling unit performed decently, but we fell short in the batting department,” he noted.

Rahane concluded by lamenting KKR’s inability to clinch close games during the tournament. “This season was filled with ups and downs. We had chances in a few games but failed to capitalize. In tight matches, we struggled as a unit. Winning close matches is crucial in this format,” he reflected.

“Matches against Punjab Kings, LSG, and CSK could have had different outcomes. From my perspective as captain, everyone prepared well. It’s challenging to defend a championship, but we will return stronger next year,” he said.