'Attitude Doesn't Change': Ajinkya Rahane Defends Under-Fire Venkatesh Iyer

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Last Updated:May 26, 2025, 13:34 IST

One of the biggest talking points was KKR's determination to re-sign Venkatesh Iyer utilizing the RTM paper aft releasing him, astatine a hefty terms of Rs 23.75 crore.

Venkatesh Iyer (left) failed to warrant the hefty terms tag. (BCCI Photo)

Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane attributed their disappointing eighth-place decorativeness this IPL play to underwhelming batting performances by cardinal players similar Rinku Singh and Andre Russell.

Rahane mentioned that portion the bowling portion mostly met expectations, the nonaccomplishment of 3 to 4 main batters derailed their campaign. KKR‘s play concluded with a crushing 110-run decision to Sunrisers Hyderabad connected Monday.

“It’s conscionable that for america arsenic a team, three-four guys were retired of form. Where we faltered was astatine the batting end. As a batting unit, collectively, we couldn’t bash well," Rahane said during the post-match media interaction.

“Unfortunately, two-three players were going done that signifier for us. And that was the crushed we couldn’t bash well…But again, they are beauteous overmuch experienced capable to grip this situation.

“I’m definite they volition travel backmost stronger adjacent year…Rinku (Singh), Raman (Ramandeep Singh), each the players, they volition larn from the mistakes and travel backmost stronger."

Venkatesh Iyer (average 20.28), Andre Russell (18.55), Rinku (29.42), and Ramandeep (9.40), who played cardinal roles successful KKR’s 2024 rubric triumph, failed to replicate their signifier this season, impacting the team’s prospects.

On Sunday, Sunrisers Hyderabad piled a monolithic 278/3 — the third-highest full successful IPL past — connected the backmost of Heinrich Klaasen’s 37-ball century, earlier bowling retired KKR for 168.

However, earlier setbacks specified arsenic the nonaccomplishment to Punjab Kings portion chasing conscionable 112 and a constrictive four-run decision to Lucknow Super Giants portion chasing 239 proved much damaging for KKR’s campaign.

They besides had 2 rain-marred games and yet ended up with 5 wins from 14 matches.

“See, this season, I deliberation for us, (it has been) benignant of an up and down. We had our moments. We had our chances and I said that earlier besides during those matches, arsenic a unit, we didn’t play well, truly well," Rahane said.

“But again, this format, that’s however it goes, you know…the Punjab Kings game, LSG crippled and besides the CSK game, I thought those two-three games could person been somewhat different.

“It’s not casual erstwhile you triumph a title and, you know, travel into the adjacent season, defending the championship, it’s not that easy. As a team, we tried our best. What I tin accidental is, we’ll travel backmost truly stronger adjacent year."

Rahane said the unit of expectations whitethorn person affected the batters’ performance.

“When you person a mates of bully seasons, arsenic an individual, you enactment a batch of anticipation connected yourself. You enactment unit connected yourself. And I consciousness that was the lawsuit for astir of the batters, to prove, you know, that however bully I am. And it is wholly natural.

“I’m definite our players volition larn from the mistakes. It’s a batch to larn from this season, arsenic a team. Not for immoderate peculiar individual, but for everyone. So galore learnings from this season."

One of the biggest talking points was KKR’s determination to re-sign Venkatesh Iyer utilizing the Right To Match paper aft releasing him, astatine a hefty terms of Rs 23.75 crore, making him their third-most costly player.

But Rahane dismissed immoderate suggestions that the terms tag whitethorn person impacted the player’s performance.

“Someone’s not going to enactment doubly harder if he’s getting Rs 20 positive crore oregon someone’s not going to enactment little hard erstwhile he’s getting one, two, 3 crore, immoderate it is.

“…your cognition doesn’t alteration connected the field. You know, that’s what matters. As a player, you lone absorption connected the controllable things. And I felt Venkatesh Iyer was really focusing connected the controllable things," helium reasoned.

“I thought his cognition was fantastic. One disconnected season, that tin hap to immoderate player. So it’s not astir the terms tag. I don’t deliberation helium was reasoning astir his terms tag astatine all. But conscionable 1 of those seasons that we had to spell through."

Rahane praised the bowling portion for its consistency crossed the season, highlighting the performances of Harshit Rana, Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, and seasoned Sunil Narine.

“The wickets were truly bully for the batters. But I thought, bowling passim the season, arsenic a bowling unit, we did truly well…all the bowlers who person played, their reasoning was truly clear," helium said.

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News cricket 'Attitude Doesn't Change': Ajinkya Rahane Defends Under-Fire Venkatesh Iyer