Ajinkya Rahane explains why he’s proud of KKR despite not qualifying for IPL 2026 playoffs

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The 2026 season of the Indian Premier League may have ended in disappointment for the Kolkata Knight Riders, but captain Ajinkya Rahane believes his side still has plenty 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 throughout a difficult season.

Despite entering the tournament with high expectations, KKR struggled to find momentum in the opening half of the season. A series of close defeats and missed opportunities left the three-time IPL champions under pressure early on. However, the team managed to stay alive in the playoff race for a considerable period by producing strong performances in the latter stages of the tournament. Speaking after KKR’s final league match, Rahane praised the squad for refusing to give up when the season seemed to be slipping away.

Rahane admitted that the season did not unfold the way the franchise had hoped, but he emphasised that the players displayed tremendous resilience under pressure. According to the KKR skipper, the turnaround after the first few matches was a reflection of the squad’s character and attitude. He pointed out that remaining competitive in a long and demanding tournament like the IPL requires mental strength as much as cricketing skill.

“Talking about the kind of season we had, I’m really proud of each and every one. The situation we were in after six games and then from there coming back, keeping the league alive and playing that kind of cricket needed character, a good attitude and resilience. I’m really proud of each and every individual,” Rahane said in the post-match presser.

Rahane said he was proud of how 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 showed the positive environment inside the dressing room.

The experienced batter also noted that there were several key moments in the first half of the season where KKR narrowly missed out on victories. Those setbacks proved costly in the final standings, but Rahane appreciated the way the side continued to believe in itself despite the mounting pressure.

He further explained that every individual in the squad contributed wholeheartedly and maintained a team-first approach throughout the season. Even though missing the playoffs remains disappointing, Rahane insisted that the commitment shown by the players was one of the biggest positives from the campaign.

“Absolutely, there are a lot of positives. In the first half of the season there were key moments where we were losing out, but after that, coming back from there is never easy. IPL is a long tournament with a lot of pressure and high-pressure situations. But again, staying strong, having that character and attitude in every game and trying your best for the team – inside the dressing room we all were really happy. As I said, every individual put in that effort by going out there. This season didn’t go our way and we didn’t qualify, which is disappointing, but I’m really proud of everyone and the kind of effort we put in,” added Rahane.

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KKR’s IPL 2026 journey came to a disappointing conclusion with a 40-run defeat against the Delhi Capitals in their final league fixture at Eden Gardens. Delhi produced a dominant all-round performance to end their season on a high. KL Rahul anchored the innings with a composed half-century, playing several elegant strokes and guiding DC to a competitive total. The experienced batter looked in complete control against both pace and spin and ensured Delhi maintained momentum throughout the innings.

In reply, KKR struggled to build partnerships during the chase. The innings never truly gained rhythm as wickets fell at regular intervals. Spin bowler Kuldeep Yadav played a decisive role for Delhi Capitals with a brilliant three-wicket spell that derailed Kolkata’s hopes of signing off the season with a victory.

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