Ajinkya Rahane insisted he never considered stepping down as Kolkata Knight Riders captain despite the team’s disastrous start to IPL 2026, emphasising that leadership and character matter most during
difficult phases.
KKR’s campaign began poorly, as the former champions lost five of their first six matches and slipped to the bottom of the points table. Questions were raised about both the team’s direction and Rahane’s own form with the bat. However, Kolkata managed to revive their season with six wins in their final eight games, briefly keeping their playoff hopes alive before eventually falling short.
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Speaking after KKR’s 40-run defeat to Delhi Capitals in their final league match, Rahane reflected on the pressure of leading a struggling side and said that maintaining composure had been crucial throughout the season.
“For me, I’ve played cricket all my life with a good attitude. Character has always been very important for me,” Rahane said in the post-match press conference.
“I’m never one to back down. When the team is down, when the team is struggling, it’s very important to show your character at that time. I am never one that steps down. When the team is struggling, it is important to show your character.”
‘Not Everyone Can Handle The Pressure’
Rahane acknowledged the pressure that came with KKR’s difficult campaign but said that panicking would only have worsened the situation.
“Yes, there’s pressure. It’s very natural, but the pressure is on those who are privileged. Not everyone can handle the pressure. For me, it was important to stay strong and not panic. It’s very easy, when you lose 5-6 matches, for your focus to shift to the past and the future.”
The veteran batter endured a mixed season with the bat, scoring 335 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 135. His scoring rate outside the Powerplay also attracted criticism during the tournament.
Despite that, Rahane remained firm in his belief that resilience was the key to KKR’s late revival.
“It’s important that you stay in that moment. Things can turn around any time. We’ve seen in a lot of matches and series how things change. It’s very important to maintain that attitude and character. I’m never one to back down. Those thoughts (of stepping down) never came to me,” added Rahane, who famously captained India to the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia after the team’s historic 36 all out in Adelaide.
(With inputs from Agencies)
