Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane said the team’s resilience and fighting spirit were the biggest positives from an otherwise disappointing IPL season in which they narrowly missed the playoffs.
Speaking after KKR’s final league match — a defeat against Delhi Capitals — Rahane admitted the team struggled in the opening phase despite showing promise in patches. He felt the side failed to capitalise on key moments, which proved costly in a format decided by fine margins.
“I am really proud of the way we came back as a team.
The first six games were tough, and although we played good cricket in phases, we failed to capitalise on key moments. In a format like the IPL, those fine margins make all the difference,” Rahane said.“What stood out was the character and resilience in the group. We decided to stay together, back each other, and keep fighting. It would have been easy to give up after a poor start, but the team showed tremendous spirit,” he added.
Rahane identified youngsters Kartik Tyagi and Anukul Roy as the major positives for KKR from the season.
“This season was about giving opportunities, and both Kartik and Anukul made the most of theirs. For me, this is just the beginning for them,” he said. “Kartik was outstanding throughout the season. He bowled with intensity and had clarity in his plans. Anukul may not have bowled in every game, but whenever he got the ball, he delivered wickets for us.”
The KKR captain also praised experienced players Manish Pandey and Saurabh Dubey for their contributions during the campaign.
