By Robert 
Ajinkya Rahane’s candid moment with Shreyas Iyer after Kolkata Knight Riders’ dramatic collapse against Punjab Kings has taken the internet by storm. Following the post-match handshake, Rahane was caught on camera telling Iyer in Marathi, “Kay faltu batting keli na aamhi” (We batted really poorly, didn’t we?), a comment that instantly resonated with fans and quickly went viral.
KKR suffered a stunning defeat at the hands of Punjab Kings in Mullanpur on April 15, getting bowled out for just 95 while chasing a modest target of 112—the lowest successfully defended score in IPL history. The loss marked Kolkata’s second major batting failure this season.
At one point, it looked like KKR had the game in the bag, cruising at 62/2 in the eighth over with just 50 more needed. But the momentum shifted when Yuzvendra Chahal produced a magical spell, taking four wickets and dismantling the middle order. What followed was a collapse few saw coming.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Rahane didn’t shy away from taking responsibility.
“I’ll take the blame. As captain, I played the wrong shot. Even though the ball was missing the stumps, I should’ve reviewed it. But it started from there,” he admitted.
He acknowledged that the batting unit collectively underperformed.
“We batted really badly as a team. The bowlers did a fantastic job restricting a strong Punjab side to 111, and we should’ve chased it down easily,” Rahane added.
The loss leaves the defending champions in a tough spot, with just three wins from seven matches. Their form has been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses across all games so far. Now, they must win at least five of their remaining seven matches to realistically stay in the playoff race.
With mounting pressure and their batting woes exposed, KKR will need to regroup quickly. As Rahane’s brutally honest quip highlighted—there’s no room for complacency from here.