In match number 38, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) hosted Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. LSG won the toss and decided to bowl first and once again Ajinkya Rahane failed to give KKR the start they needed and was out at the score of 10 runs off 15 balls. This season has been bad for the KKR captain.
LSG got off to a great start as Mohammed Shami and Mohsin Khan were doing well with the new ball and added pressure as the latter took the wicket of Tim Seifert, who was dismissed without scoring. Next came Ajinkya Rahane, as his string of low scores continues as KKR are now in deep trouble with the score at 21/2.
Ajinkya Rahane’s bad form continues
Earlier, Ajinkya Rahane had been out on zero twice consecutively in this match. He struggled from the very first ball and despite hitting a six in the previous over, the pitch was slow and he gave an easy catch to Aiden Markram at mid-off while playing an uphill straight drive. This will increase pressure on the KKR captain.
Despite a good start to the season, Ajinkya Rahane did not continue scoring runs in the remaining matches. He has scored 152 runs in 8 innings for KKR this season, which is poor for the captain of one of the successful franchises in the IPL. Questions are also being raised on his captaincy as KKR has won only one game in the last 7 matches.
Just assess the situation immediately- Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane said at the time of the toss, “We were looking to bat first. At the moment, you know, for us, it is important to see how we are playing as a team. So, I thought the bowling unit is coming together well. The reason we wanted to bat first is, you know, to give that freedom to our batting unit so that they can bat freely and then as I said, the bowling unit is coming together.”
“But still, at the end of the day, you just have to assess the conditions quickly, whether you bat first or bowl first and win those important moments in these power plays. We are going in with the same team. For us, we all needed the week off, especially that win was really important from a team point of view.”
“Morale was really good. But obviously the last two, three days, sitting together as a team, reflecting on the last seven games, what things we did right, what areas we can improve on.”
After being invited to bat first, KKR have been stumbling on a slow wicket, with wickets falling constantly, and there was a controversial decision which led to Angkrish Raghuvanshi being given out for obstructing the field.
Fans angry at Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal on low score
Hour, brother, KKR is a stupid team and will remain a stupid captain, there is no place for him, he has been made the captain.
– Abhishek Yadav (@Er_Akhi_N) 26 April 2026
Please someone stop Rahane from opening the innings for KKR!
– Partha Pratim Sen (@parthasen21) 26 April 2026
How stupid is KKR management to support this test player Rahane… and Raghuvanshi is a fraud #LSGvsKKR
– Shah (@viva_shahadat) 26 April 2026
Sack Rahane and start the trend.
– Kohli Steyn (@itsmebruh1234) 26 April 2026
Dear KKR management team, are you talking nonsense… Why doesn’t Rahane change his team???? You please give up your captaincy.
– Suman Malla (@SumanMalla1995) 26 April 2026
No good team would pick Rahane even in the auction, and here KKR have made him their captain, allowing him to open and destroy any momentum in the PP.. Pathetic.. Venky Mysore should be sacked
– Souvick Basu (@souvick4u) 26 April 2026
Tell MC Rahane to drop this too like Finn
– SH Iqbal (@iqbal__sh) 26 April 2026
I had a lot of respect for Rahane as a player and captain.
He is losing a lot of the goodwill/name he has earned.– Ghost (@work_of_ghost) 26 April 2026
Also Read: IPL Points Table 2026: Updated Standings, Orange Cap, Purple Cap after CSK vs GT Match 37
