Rahane hits back at strike-rate criticism after KKR loss

April 3, 2026

Hyderabad: Ajinkya Rahane responded to criticism about his strike rate after the 65-run loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He said that those criticizing either don’t understand the game or have an agenda against him.

Lack of rhythm in the innings
Rahane had a slow start during the match, scoring just 8 runs in the first 9 balls. He was dismissed by Jaydev Unadkat. He also struggled to rotate the strike against spin bowlers Harsh Dubey and Abhishek Sharma in the powerplay.

Showed strength in the first match
However, in Kolkata Knight Riders’ first match against Mumbai Indians, Rahane performed brilliantly, scoring 67 runs in 40 balls at a strike rate of 167.50.

Poor performance of the team
KKR’s innings lacked big partnerships, and none reached 50 runs. Key batsmen like Cameron Green and Angkrish Raghuvanshi were dismissed early due to runouts, reducing the team to 161 runs in 16 overs.

Responding to critics
Rahane said, “I have the best strike rate. Those who are talking probably aren’t watching the match or have an agenda. They don’t like my game. They’re probably jealous of my success. But it doesn’t matter to me, my intentions are clear.”

He also said that he has the best strike rate among Indian batsmen in the powerplay since 2023, with only Abhishek Sharma ahead of him.

Important matches ahead
KKR have lost both their opening matches, the second time in their history. Now, the team will have to bounce back when they face Punjab Kings on April 6 and Lucknow Super Giants on April 9.