Ajinkya Rahane scored just 8 runs off 10 balls during the KKR vs SRH match in the IPL. (that I)
Ajinkya Rahane is not one of the explosive people behind the microphone. That changed a little, on Thursday after the Kolkata Knight Riders skipper addressed the media following their 65-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing IPL 2026.He was asked about his opening partnership with Finn Allen and the role of the offensive broadcaster between them. He was also investigated for “external noise” around his strike rate, particularly against spin.
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Ajinkya Rahane press conference: KKR captain supports bowlers, responds to SR critics
Rahane, who scored just 8 off 10 balls, did not let up as KKR suffered their second successive loss this season.“I think I have one of the best strikeout rates so far as of 2023,” he said. “The people who are talking about me (maybe) don’t watch the game or have a certain agenda against me.
They don’t like my playing. They don’t like to watch me play.”“The amount of success I’ve had, I think they’re jealous of me. I’m not too worried. You guys know what I’m doing. Just one bad innings… not a bad innings, but my intent was there. Sometimes, as a batsman, you don’t get that rhythm, you don’t get that flow. People who are talking, either they don’t understand the game (or) I think they want me to play a different kind of innings.”
“They didn’t expect Ajinkya Rahane to prove his game this much. So I’m happy that they’re talking about me, negative or positive, either way. I’m really happy that they’re talking. Let them talk.”
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane played his 200th IPL match against SRH. (that I)
In the contest against SRH, Rahane scored just eight runs in nine balls before getting the better of Jaydev Unadkat’s slower delivery. During his short stay, he struggled to find the gaps when facing the spin of Harsh Dubey and Abhishek Sharma in the Powerplay.
The trick seems to have been to keep the seamers away from Rahane – against whom the right-hander works best.Does Ajinkya Rahane have a strong strike rate since IPL 2023?
| Matches | Roles | Runs | middle | Strike rate | 4s | 6 seconds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 37 | 1033 | 29.51 | 147.48 | 86 | 48 |
Rahane’s claim that he maintains “one of the best strike rates to date as of 2023” does not hold up.Overall, he ranks 88th in the list based on strike rate since IPL 2023. During this period, he played 42 matches, scoring 1,033 runs, at an average of 29.51 and a strike rate of 147.78.Dig deeper, and based on players who have faced at least 50 balls, he stands at 64th in the list of IPL batsmen, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi topping the charts with a strike rate of 218.70.If you look at those who have stayed longer in the middle, 250 balls or more, Rahane is 44th on the list. Abhishek Sharma tops this list with a strike rate of 185.23.Among the top four players who have bowled at least 250 balls, Rahane ranks at 28. Nicholas Pooran tops this list with a strike rate of 191.60.A look at Rahane’s powerplay numbers makes things look better for him. In the last three seasons, his power play batting average has been 168.80.Batting with best strike rate since IPL 2023 (faced at least 300 balls)
| player | hostel | Runs | Face the balls | Strike rate | middle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travis Head | 29 | 720 | 383 | 187.98 | 48 |
| Abhishek Sharma | 39 | 761 | 431 | 176.56 | 34.59 |
| Phil Salt | 33 | 730 | 420 | 173.80 | 36.50 |
| Ajinkya Rahane | 31 | 552 | 329 | 167.78 | 69 |
| Yashavi Jaiswal | 44 | 1029 | 617 | 166.77 | 54.15 |
Among players who have faced at least 300 balls since IPL 2023, his strike rate (167.78) during the power play is the fourth best. This list is led by Travis Head (187.98).Among Indians, only Abhishek Sharma has a better strike rate during this period (176.56).Against spinners with the new ball (effectively going beyond power), Rahane has a strike rate of 170.79 but the challenge, as revealed against SRH, is the spinners with the new ball as his strike rate drops to 140.54.
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Should Kolkata Knight Riders make changes to their batting line-up?
But the biggest problem lies beyond the Powerplay. His strikeout average dropped to 127.27 and 115.58, respectively, over the two middle periods. Overall, it stands at 129.30.Against spin in the middle (7-15 overs), his strike rate drops to 114.02.KKR now have back-to-back home matches next week, against Punjab Kings and Lucknow Super Giants on April 6 and April 9 respectively, as they hope to register their first win of the season.See also: PBKS vs CSK live score