Ajinkya Rahane's strike-rate remarks backfire amid lackluster IPL 2026 outings

The Kolkata Knight Riders remain mathematically alive in the IPL 2026 playoff race following a mid-season turnaround. For Ajinkya Rahane, however, the season has been marked by difficulties with the bat. His inconsistency in scoring runs has often drawn criticism from fans.

Rahane began the campaign with two consecutive ducks and has rarely displayed his trademark class since then. His inability to convert starts and frequent low scores have weakened both his batting record and KKR’s overall campaign.

Rahane slammed 'strike rate' critics

Earlier in the season, Rahane addressed criticism surrounding his strike rate after an unconvincing start. The veteran dismissed the detractors, insisting he would not pay attention to outside noise and would instead focus on his own game.

"My strike rate... I have the best strike rate so far, from 2023. People who are talking are probably not watching the game or have a certain agenda against me. They don't like me playing. They don't like to watch me play. "The amount of success I've got, I guess they're jealous about that.

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"I'm not too worried. My intent was there. Sometimes, as a batter, you don't get the rhythm or the flow. People who are talking either don't understand the game, or they want me to play a different kind of innings," Rahane said, as quoted by ESPN.

Numbers tell a different story

Ajinkya had maintained an impressive strike rate of 167.78 (minimum 250 balls faced) since IPL 2023, second only to SRH opener Abhishek Sharma at 176.56. But in IPL 2026, the numbers have declined sharply.

So far in the season, Rahane has scored 251 runs at an average of 22.82 and maintained a strike rate of 130.73, which ranks among the lowest among batters. His current performance does not support the strong defence he made earlier in the season.

Despite Rahane's struggles, KKR remains in contention for a playoff spot. They snapped the Gujarat Titans' win streak with a convincing 29-run victory on Saturday at Eden Gardens. Kolkata will now face MI and DC at home, and winning both matches may ensure them a playoff spot.