Kolkata Knight Riders are on the verge of elimination from the Indian Premier League after a defeat to Chennai Super Kings, but captain Ajinkya Rahane remains optimistic. With only two matches left, KKR can finish with a maximum of 15 points. Rahane believes that with 15 points, they can still qualify for the playoffs and is urging his team to stay positive. Despite a setback in their recent match, Rahane feels that KKR has been playing good cricket and is confident they can bounce back in their upcoming games against Hyderabad and Bengaluru.
However, KKR’s qualification hopes also rely on Mumbai Indians losing both of their remaining matches to stay on 14 points. If MI loses to Delhi Capitals, it would lift DC to 15 points as well, setting up a potential Net Run Rate battle for the final playoff spot between KKR and DC. Alternatively, if Punjab Kings lose all three of their remaining games, MI could move beyond 15 points, while DC, PBKS, and KKR could all finish on 15, leading to a three-way Net Run Rate showdown.
Despite KKR’s bowlers putting pressure on CSK early on, they couldn’t capitalize on it. Rahane praised the bowling unit for their efforts and believed that KKR fell short by about 15 runs with the bat. He highlighted the bravery of players like Dube and Dewald Brevis, who took chances that paid off. Rahane also acknowledged the challenge of facing MS Dhoni in the final over, where a well-executed yorker by Andre Russell still resulted in a six.
Overall, Rahane remains hopeful for KKR’s chances in the remaining matches and is confident that the team can turn things around to secure a spot in the playoffs.
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