Kolkata, April 10 Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane admitted that their three-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League 2026 was a tough loss, as they suffered another close defeat at Eden Gardens on Thursday.
Coming in to bat first, KKR posted a competitive 181/4 in 20 overs, thanks to solid contributions from Rahane (41), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (45), and an unbeaten 39 from Rovman Powell. The total was challenging, especially on a slow pitch, particularly after KKR managed to control the middle overs.
However, LSG chased down the target in a dramatic fashion, with Mukul Chaudhary smashing an unbeaten 54 off 27 balls and forming a crucial partnership after Ayush Badoni had anchored the innings earlier.
“It was a tough loss to take, but I am really proud of the boys for the way we played. Mukul's innings was crucial,” Rahane said after the match, praising Mukul Choudhary for his match-winning effort.
Reflecting on the final overs, where the team lost control, Rahane said, “There can be errors in the last two overs, but credit to Mukul for that partnership. For them, it was about maximizing every ball.”
He acknowledged that, despite some good deliveries, Mukul’s aggressive approach turned the game. “A couple of balls were good, but he batted brilliantly,” Rahane added.
Rahane also pointed out that defending the total was not straightforward given the conditions. “Scoring 180 on this wicket was difficult. Let’s give credit to the batsman for his performance,” he said.
The KKR captain also revealed the team’s strategy in the final over. “The intention was to keep Avesh Khan on strike. We needed to field five fielders, and it's tough for the bowlers,” he explained.
Despite the defeat, Rahane remained positive about his side’s effort, while admitting that small margins made the difference in the end. With this loss, KKR are yet to win a match this season. They will now face five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 14.