Chennai: Ajinkya Rahane has (hinted) at major changes in team combination after Kolkata Knight Riders slumped to the bottom of the IPL 2026 table following another defeat, this time against Chennai Super Kings.
With zero wins, four losses and one no result, KKR’s campaign is rapidly unravelling, forcing the skipper to rethink strategy and selection.
Rahane admits batting failure
Rahane pointed out that while KKR did well to restrict CSK to 192 on a batting-friendly pitch, the chase fell apart due to a poor start and inability to handle spin.
“We just got 36–37 runs in the powerplay, which was crucial. In the middle phase, hitting spinners was slightly challenging. We needed one batter to stay till the end,” Rahane said after the match.
KKR’s innings never gained momentum, and despite brief partnerships, the team fell well short of the target.
Bowling effort earns praise
Rahane lauded his bowlers for pulling things back after a tough start:
- CSK scored 70+ runs in the powerplay
- KKR managed to restrict them to 192/5
- Kartik Tyagi impressed with 2/35
“I thought pulling them back to 190 was an amazing job,” he noted.
Spin proves decisive again
The turning point came during KKR’s chase, when Noor Ahmad produced a match-winning spell.
- Triggered collapse from 90/3 to 90/6
- Exposed KKR’s ongoing struggle against spin
Despite efforts from:
- Ajinkya Rahane (28)
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (27)
KKR finished at 160/7, losing by 32 runs.
“We may need to change combinations”
Rahane admitted that sticking with a settled XI hasn’t worked due to poor results and hinted at possible changes:
“We thought the combination was good, but when results don’t go your way, you have to think about changes.”
He emphasised:
- Staying positive as a group
- Keeping things simple
- Reassessing team balance in the dressing room
CSK climb, KKR sink
While KKR remain rooted at the bottom, CSK’s win helped them move up the table:
- CSK: 2 wins, 4 points – 8th place
- KKR: Winless – 10th place
Key CSK contributors included:
- Samson – 48 (32)
- Dewald Brevis – 41 (29)
What lies ahead?
KKR now face a critical phase in their campaign. With pressure mounting, Rahane and the team management must:
- Address top-order inconsistency
- Improve performance against spin bowling
- Make bold selection calls
Unless quick changes yield results, KKR risk falling out of playoff contention early in IPL 2026.