2026 season of Indian Premier League may end in disappointment for Kolkata Knight Ridersbut captain Ajinkya Rahane He believes his team still has a lot to be proud of. After KKR failed to qualify for the playoffs and finished seventh on the points table, Rahane reflected on the campaign with a sense of admiration for the fighting spirit shown by his players during a difficult season.
Despite entering the tournament with high expectations, KKR struggled to find momentum in the early part of the season. A series of close defeats and missed opportunities put the three-time IPL champions under pressure early on. However, the team managed to survive long enough in the playoff race by performing strongly in the latter stages of the tournament. Speaking after KKR’s final league match, Rahane lauded the team that refused to give up when it seemed the season was slipping away.
Ajinkya Rahane tells why he is proud of KKR
Rahane admitted that the season did not unfold the way the franchise had hoped, but he stressed that the players showed tremendous resilience under pressure. According to the KKR captain, the change after the first few matches was a reflection of the character and attitude of the team. He explained that staying competitive in a long and demanding tournament like the IPL requires cricket skills as well as mental strength.
“Talking about the kind of season we had, I’m really proud of everybody. The position we were in after six games and then coming back from there, it took character, good attitude and resilience to survive the league and play that kind of cricket. I’m really proud of everybody.” Rahane said in the press conference after the match.
Rahane said he was proud of the way the players responded after a difficult start to the campaign. He highlighted that staying united during challenging phases and continuing to fight for every game reflects the positive atmosphere inside the dressing room.
The veteran batsman also said that there were several crucial moments in the first half of the season where KKR missed out on a win. Those setbacks proved costly in the final stages, but Rahane appreciated the way the team maintained belief in itself despite mounting pressure.
He further added that everyone in the team contributed whole-heartedly and maintained a team-first approach throughout the season. Even though missing the playoffs is disappointing, Rahane stressed 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 some key moments in the first half of the season where we were losing, 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, staying strong, having that character and approach in every game and trying our best for the team – inside the dressing room we were all really happy. Like I said, every single person went out and made that effort. This season hasn’t gone our way and We didn’t qualify, which is disappointing, but I’m really proud of everyone and the effort we put in.” Added Rahane.
Also read: Top 5 IPL teams with most playoff performances, Royal Challengers Bangalore
KKR’s season ends after a crushing defeat against Delhi Capitals.
KKR’s IPL 2026 journey came to a disappointing conclusion with a 40-run defeat against Delhi Capitals in their final league match at the Eden Gardens. Delhi finished their season with a brilliant all-round performance. KL Rahul Started the innings with a composed half-century, played several brilliant strokes and took DC to a competitive total. The experienced batsman looked in complete control against both pace and spin and ensured that Delhi maintained the momentum throughout the innings.
In reply, KKR struggled to build partnerships while chasing the target. The innings was never able to find momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals. spin bowler -Kuldeep Yadav Played a decisive role for Delhi Capitals by taking a brilliant three wickets, derailing Kolkata’s hopes of starting the season with a win.
Also read: DC captain Axar Patel picks the strongest team for IPL 2026 playoffs
