Kolkata Knight Riders’ captain Ajinkya Rahane was visibly frustrated after his team’s surprising collapse against Punjab Kings.
A Shocking Turnaround
Punjab Kings were bowled out for 111 on their home ground, a modest total that KKR were expected to chase down comfortably. They had reached 62/2, needing 50 off 75 balls. But after Rahane’s dismissal, the team imploded. Rahane fell for 17 off 17, leg before wicket to Yuzvendra Chahal’s delivery.
This is the lowest total in IPL history that a team has successfully defended. Rahane admitted his mistake and took the blame for the loss, pointing out it was a chain reaction that started with his dismissal.
He said the team played poorly as a batting unit. The bowlers did a great job against Punjab’s strong batting lineup, but the team was careless. Rahane was disappointed and felt he needed to calm down and think about how to motivate the team.
Rahane said, “I take the blame. I played the wrong shot. It started from there. I didn’t want to take a risk, but the pitch wasn’t easy.”
- Rahane’s dismissal was a turning point.
- KKR’s batting unit failed to perform.
- Punjab’s bowlers restricted KKR to 112.
The match highlighted the fine margins between victory and defeat in the IPL. Punjab’s bowlers did enough to restrict KKR to 112, a remarkable achievement given the target was just 111.
