2026 season Indian Premier League may have ended in disappointment Kolkata Knight Ridersbut the captain Ajinkya Rahane believes his side still have a lot to be proud of. After KKR failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished seventh in the points table, Rahane reflected on the campaign with admiration for the fighting spirit shown by his players during a tough season.
Despite entering the tournament with high hopes, KKR struggled to find momentum in the first half of the season. A string of close defeats and missed opportunities put the three-time IPL champions under early pressure. However, the team managed to stay alive in the playoff race for quite some time, with strong performances in the latter stages of the tournament. Speaking after KKR’s last league match, Rahane praised the squad for refusing to give up when it looked like the season was slipping.
Ajinkya Rahane explains why he is proud of KKR
Rahane admitted that the season has not gone the way the franchise had hoped, but he emphasized that the players have shown great resilience under pressure. According to the KKR skipper, the turnaround after the first few matches reflected the character and attitude of the team. He pointed out that staying competitive in a long and demanding tournament like the IPL requires mental strength as much as cricketing skills.
“Talking about the season we’ve had, I’m really proud of each and every one of them. It took character, good attitude and grit to come back from where we were after six games, keep the league alive and play that kind of cricket. I’m really proud of each and every one of them.” Rahane said in a press release after the match.
Rahane said he was proud of how the players responded after starting a tough campaign. He emphasized that staying together in difficult stages and continuing to fight for every game shows a positive atmosphere in the dressing room.
The experienced batsman also pointed out that there were a few crucial moments in the first half of the season where KKR narrowly missed out on wins. Those lapses proved costly in the final, but Rahane praised the side’s continued belief in themselves despite mounting pressure.
He further explained that every individual in the squad contributed wholeheartedly and maintained a team-first approach throughout the season. While it was disappointing to miss out on the play-offs, Rahane insisted that the commitment shown by the players was one of the biggest positives of the campaign.
“Obviously there are a lot of positives. There were key moments in the first half of the season when we lost, but it’s never easy to come back from that. The IPL is a long tournament with a lot of pressure and high-pressure situations. But still staying strong, having that character and attitude in every game and trying to do our best for the team – I said we were all very happy in the dressing room. This season didn’t go our way and we didn’t qualify, it’s disappointing, but I’m proud of everyone and the effort we put in.” Rahane added.
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Heavy defeat to Delhi Capitals ends KKR’s season
KKR’s IPL 2026 journey came to a disappointing end with a 40-run defeat against Delhi Capitals in their last league match at the Eden Gardens. Delhi produced a dominant all-round performance to end the season on a high. KL Rahul Played several elegant strokes and anchored the innings with a composed half-century, leading DC to a competitive total. The experienced batsman kept both pace and spin in full control and ensured Delhi maintained their momentum throughout the innings.
In reply, KKR struggled to build a partnership during the chase. The innings never really got a rhythm as wickets fell regularly. Spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav He played a decisive role for Delhi Capitals with a brilliant three-wicket spell that shattered Kolkata’s hopes of ending the season with a win.
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