Ajinkya Rahane gives highlights on retirement after IPL 2026 KKR ends

Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane (ANI Photo) Ajinkya Rahane remained proud of his team’s fighting spirit even as Kolkata Knight Riders ended their IPL 2026 campaign with a 40-run defeat to Delhi Capitals at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Rahane played a brilliant knock of 63 off 39 balls during the chase and later admitted that the batting was not easy initially. The KKR skipper said he understands the importance of staying till the end while keeping the scoreboard moving. “Yeah, I mean, the wicket was a bit tricky at the beginning. I was batting really well and I knew one shot had to go through, so I tried to take my chances. I was actually looking for the strike rotation as well,” Rahane said after the match. Despite another disappointing campaign that saw KKR finish seventh with six wins from 14 matches, Rahane praised the character his players showed after a tough start to the season. “The situation we were in after six games and then coming back to keep the league alive and play that kind of cricket took character, good attitude and resilience. I’m really proud of every individual.” KKR struggled badly in the first half of the tournament before reviving their playoff hopes with a strong finish. However, Rajasthan Royals’ win over Mumbai Indians earlier in the day officially ended KKR’s qualification hopes even before the match against Delhi started. Rahane admitted it was disappointing to end the season without a place in the play-offs, but stressed that the atmosphere in the dressing room remained positive throughout. “There were key moments in the first half of the season when we lost, but after that it’s never easy to come back from there. The IPL is a long tournament with a lot of pressure and high-pressure situations.” “But again, to stay strong, to have that character and attitude in every game and try your best for the team – we were all really happy in the dressing room. We didn’t go well this season and we didn’t qualify, which is disappointing, but I’m really proud of everyone and the kind of effort we put in,” he added. Rahane also opened up about what lies ahead for the team after the IPL season. “I think at this point the guys have commitments. We’ll go to our homes, probably take some time off, and then probably connect via calls or Zoom and discuss further.” The veteran batsman also revealed that he has no plans to stay away from cricket for long and will soon be back in action in the local league circuit in Mumbai. “For me, just a few days off. I’ll be playing my local league in Mumbai which I’m really looking forward to. I’m happy as long as I’m playing cricket. So yeah, a few days off and then back to cricket,” Rahane said.