Virender Sehwag Slams KKR Captain Ajinkya Rahane for Selfish Batting Decisions
In a scathing critique, former India opener Virender Sehwag has called out Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane for prioritizing personal batting position over team strategy, following KKR’s dismal exit from the IPL 2025 tournament. A massive 110-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi marked the end of KKR’s campaign, prompting Sehwag to question the leadership and tactical decisions of Rahane and the KKR management.
Sehwag, known for his explosive batting and candid opinions, didn’t hold back while speaking to Cricbuzz. ‘It is not written anywhere that a captain has to bat in the top three,’ he asserted. He pointed to examples of other IPL captains like Rishabh Pant of Delhi Capitals, who has often sent in-form players ahead of himself to maximize team impact, a strategy that paid dividends for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in key matches. Sehwag also highlighted how Chennai Super Kings (CSK) adapted against Gujarat Titans by promoting Shivam Dube and Dewald Brevis up the order to exploit match-ups. ‘KKR could have done the same. This was the responsibility of the team management and coaching staff,’ Sehwag emphasized.
Despite being KKR’s leading run-scorer with 390 runs in 13 matches at a modest strike rate, Rahane’s decision to bat in the middle order rather than open has drawn ire. Rahane, who boasts an impressive record as an opener in domestic cricket—evidenced by his 469 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 164 in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Mumbai—defended his choice at the post-match press conference. ‘Yes, I’d love to open. I’ve done well in Mushtaq Ali and other formats as an opener. But it’s about what the team needs,’ Rahane explained. He cited the success of Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine as openers, alongside last season’s winning formula, as reasons for sticking with himself and young talent Angkrish Raghuvanshi at positions three and four. ‘We didn’t want to change too much from a winning combination. We thought 3 and 4 was ideal for us,’ he added.
Reflecting on KKR’s overall performance, Rahane admitted that while the bowling unit performed admirably, the batting department consistently underperformed. ‘This season has been kind of up and down for us. We had our chances, but as a unit, we didn’t play really well,’ he confessed. He pinpointed close losses against Punjab Kings (PBKS), LSG, and CSK as turning points that could have altered their campaign. ‘If you win close matches, those are the differences. I thought those 2-3 games could have been slightly different,’ Rahane noted. Despite the setbacks, he remained optimistic about the team’s spirit, stating, ‘What I saw as a captain was that everyone tried their best. It’s never easy to come into a season as defending champions—expectations are high. But I can say we gave our best, and we’ll definitely come back stronger next year.’
Sehwag’s criticism raises a broader question about leadership in the IPL, where adaptability often separates the champions from the also-rans. As KKR licks its wounds after a forgettable season, Rahane’s decisions will likely remain under scrutiny. Will the two-time IPL champions rethink their approach in the next auction, or will Rahane’s faith in stability over experimentation define their future? For now, the spotlight is firmly on KKR’s captain, as fans and analysts alike ponder what could have been if the batting order had been shuffled more aggressively in crunch moments.