Wicket was good, we didn't have game awareness - Rahane

By Admin

16 Apr, 2025

In a season dominated by towering scores and batting fireworks, the Punjab Kings vs Kolkata Knight Riders encounter on April 15 offered a rare, gritty reminder of T20 cricket’s unpredictability. While most 2024 IPL matches have seen new highs in run-scoring, this low-scoring thriller was an exception — both teams bowled out inside 16 overs, with Punjab Kings defending the lowest total in IPL history: 112.

Yet, the pitch wasn’t to blame. KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane made that clear.

“The wicket was good. It was not an unplayable wicket or that something was wrong,” Rahane clarified post-match. The loss, he emphasized, was more about “a collective failure of the batting unit” and the lack of game awareness — a hard pill to swallow in such a straightforward chase.

KKR were comfortably placed at 62/2 in the eighth over, thanks to a 55-run stand between Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. With only 50 runs required from 75 deliveries and eight wickets in hand, the result seemed inevitable. But what followed was a shocking collapse — KKR lost their final eight wickets for a mere 33 runs.

Strike rotation, not sixes, was the need of the hour, Rahane pointed out. “It’s not like Punjab bowled extremely well. I think we played bad cricket as a batting unit. I take this responsibility as a captain,” he said, adding that the players would need to reflect individually and improve in the coming games.

The Punjab bowlers, led by Yuzvendra Chahal (4/28), Glenn Maxwell, and Marco Jansen, made the most of the opportunity. The spin-heavy strategy worked wonders for PBKS, as even KKR’s renowned spin duo — Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy — had earlier kept the opposition in check.

In hindsight, would Moeen Ali — who had impressed in recent outings — have made a difference as a third spinner? Perhaps. But Rahane remained pragmatic about the decision to go with Anrich Nortje instead. “We thought it would be better if Nortje came on this wicket and did well… our fast bowlers took the wickets, they kept the pressure,” he explained.

One of the turning points was Rahane’s own dismissal. Trapped LBW by Chahal, he chose not to review — a decision he later regretted. “The communication between the two batsmen was not that clear. I didn’t take the review because of that,” he admitted. The moment symbolized the overall breakdown in clarity and game sense that plagued KKR’s innings.

Even with minimal scoreboard pressure, the KKR batters seemed to lack rhythm, often attempting big shots rather than grinding it out. Rahane emphasized the importance of adapting to conditions and reading the situation. “It’s not about hitting sixes or getting that net run rate up. It was not a flat wicket. We had to grind it out… it's all about reading the situation well, having that game awareness as a batter.”

On Moeen Ali’s absence, Rahane acknowledged the English all-rounder’s value. “It’s very hard for me to tell him, ‘Moeen, you’re not playing today,’ though he did really well in the last game,” said Rahane, praising Moeen’s team-first attitude.

KKR’s loss was not due to complacency, Rahane asserted. “We didn’t bat well. That was the truth. We didn’t have that game awareness.”

The defeat might sting for now, but with half the season still left, Rahane’s focus remains on learning and bouncing back. “It’s always about coming back with good intent, learning, and improving as a batter,” he concluded.

As the IPL 2025 heats up, the lesson is clear — no matter the target, no match is won without presence of mind, patience, and adaptability.