Ajinkya Rahane Defends Himself Amid Criticism in IPL 2026

Ajinkya Rahane, captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders, has faced criticism for his IPL performance but boldly defended himself, claiming jealousy among critics. His remarks followed a disappointing match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Former cricketer Simon Doull came to Rahane's aid, pointing out that his statistics are better than Rohit Sharma's and comparable to Ishan Kishan's over the past four years. Doull suggested that the criticism stems from KKR's poor performance in the previous season and their rocky start in IPL 2026. This situation highlights the pressures faced by players in high-stakes environments.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 8, 2026, 08:45 IST

Rahane's Bold Response to Critics

Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has sparked controversy by defending his performance after facing backlash regarding his strike rate in the IPL. He asserted that he holds the best strike rate in the league since 2023, suggesting that the criticism he faces is rooted in jealousy. Following a disappointing performance where he scored only eight runs off nine balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Rahane's fiery remarks took many by surprise. This reaction was atypical for him and inevitably drew criticism from various quarters.

Numerous former cricketers responded to Rahane's comments, emphasizing that players should be evaluated based on their performances, both positive and negative. Critics pointed out that among the 55 players with over 2000 IPL runs, Rahane's career strike rate of 125.32 ranks him 48th, while his strike rate of 147.78 since 2023 places him 33rd among those who have faced at least 400 balls.

Support from Simon Doull

In the midst of the backlash, Rahane received support from former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull. Doull defended Rahane, stating that his statistics are actually superior to those of Rohit Sharma and comparable to Ishan Kishan over the past four years. “His numbers in the last four years have not been that bad. He averages 30 and strikes at 148 over 30-odd games. People are talking about dropping him. It’s a better record than what Rohit has got in the last four years,” Doull remarked on Cricbuzz. He added that Rahane's frustration is understandable given the pressure of captaincy and the team's struggles.

Doull attributed the criticism to KKR's disappointing performance in IPL 2025, where they finished in eighth place, and their poor start to IPL 2026, having lost both of their completed matches. “The criticism came with them finishing eighth last year and having a bad start this year. He is frustrated because they don’t have the tools in the toolbox. They are not doing their job and are not playing well as a group. It’s not all his fault,” Doull concluded.