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'We'll come back stronger' – Rahane after KKR's tough season

Kolkata Knight Riders endured a mega auction right after a title-winning season, making their 2025 task more complicated. They finished eighth in a campaign that could have been better. Their season ended with a crushing 110-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad – their heaviest loss in IPL history.

The defending champions lost the plot at critical moments, notably against PBKS where they couldn't chase down 112. There were also missed opportunities against LSG and CSK. Two rain-affected washouts further dented their campaign.

Skipper Ajinkya Rahane chose not to be critical of his team, instead throwing his weight behind them.

"This season was kind of up and down. We had our moments, our chances. As a unit, we didn't play well, really well," said Rahane at the post-match press conference.

"This format is like that. If you win close matches, those are the difference. The Kings XI Punjab game, LSG game, and the CSK game could have been different.

"As a captain, I saw everyone tried their best. It's not easy defending a championship. We tried our best. We'll come back stronger next year."

While batting inconsistencies were a major part of KKR's failures, the bowling department also had concerns. Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine carried the attack, but it was far from their 2024 form.

"It was a mixed bag for our bowlers," Rahane said. "Harshit did well, went to the Indian team and did well there. Sometimes it's challenging for a player playing at the highest level to come back and perform immediately.

"Varun did well in the Champions Trophy. High-intensity tournaments take a toll. The wickets were good for batters, that's why you saw 200-plus scores. But I thought our bowlers did well throughout the season.

"Where we faltered was at the batting end. As a batting unit, we couldn't do well."

One major issue was KKR's middle overs batting. Narine and Rahane were efficient in the powerplay, but once the field spread and spin came on, their innings often nosedived. Rahane also struggled in this aspect. Venkatesh Iyer had a horrid season, and Rinku Singh was a shadow of his 2023 and 2024 self. With Andre Russell not being as impactful, the pressure told on Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Ramandeep Singh.

Rahane acknowledged the shortcomings and said the issues were more mental than skill-based.

"Sometimes when you have a couple of good seasons, you put pressure on yourself. I feel that was the case for most batters. They wanted to prove themselves.

"As a human being, when you are doing well, you have those expectations. I'm sure our players will learn from the mistakes.

"Unfortunately, 2-3 players were going through that phase. That was the reason we struggled in our batting unit. But they are experienced enough to handle this situation. They will come back stronger."

Rahane's batting position was also discussed, given his struggles against spin. However, he reinvented himself in the middle order during his stint with Chennai Super Kings.

"For me, it's always about the team. I can tell the management I want to open, but you have to see the combination.

"Sunil had a good season last year, we didn't want to change that. Quinton is an opener. Angkrish and I can adapt to 3 and 4.

"If you ask me, I would love to open. But it's always about the team."

Rahane defended Venkatesh Iyer, who had a difficult season.

"If a player gets 20 plus crore or 1 or 2 crore, your attitude doesn't change on the field. It's about focusing on the controllable things.

"Venkatesh was practicing hard, trying his best. His attitude was fantastic. He was always looking to contribute for the team."