KKR Captain Ajinkya Rahane Reflects on Momentum Shift in IPL Opener Against RCB

Rahane Analyzes Key Moments in IPL Match

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India] - March 23: Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), discussed a pivotal moment in the first innings that altered the "momentum" during their match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the opening game of the Indian Premier League.

Playing at their home ground, KKR faced a disappointing 7-wicket defeat at the renowned Eden Gardens.

After being set to bat first, KKR struggled initially against Josh Hazlewood's aggressive bowling. However, Rahane and Sunil Narine shifted gears, adopting a bold strategy that propelled the team to 107 runs for the loss of one wicket in just 9.5 overs.

Despite their strong start, RCB managed to break through with Rasikh Salam dismissing Narine (44), which marked the beginning of a downward spiral for KKR.

Krunal Pandya seized the moment, taking two quick wickets that left KKR reeling at 145 for 5.

Rahane noted that this was the turning point, as the defending champions struggled to reach the 200-run mark. He stated, "I believed we were on track until the 13th over, but losing 2-3 wickets shifted the momentum. The batters that followed did their best, but it just didn’t click. Venky and I had discussed that a score of 200-210 was within reach, but those wickets changed everything."

He added, "There was a bit of dew, but RCB had a strong powerplay. Our total was below par. We aimed for a score over 200. While we don’t want to dwell too much on this match, we need to focus on improving in specific areas."

After KKR managed to score 174 for 8, RCB's explosive opening pair, Philip Salt and Virat Kohli, dazzled the crowd with their batting prowess.

The fans were thrilled as RCB chants echoed throughout Kolkata, with the duo forming a 95-run opening partnership that secured a comfortable 7-wicket victory for RCB.