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Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who scored an attacking 40-ball 67 in his team’s six-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians (MI) at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium, on Sunday, insists that he’s unfazed by the criticism he has been getting in the recent past.
Asked if he was looking to make a statement through his attacking knock — laced with three fours and five sixes — Rahane, 37, who stepped down from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy captaincy last season, shot back, saying he does not have anything to prove to anyone.
“Let people talk about me. They’ve been talking about me for, what, 20 years now. Let them talk. I’m really happy with the way I’m batting. I’m not here to show anyone how talented I am and what my game is. People are watching. Let them watch. Let them talk,” Rahane said at the post-match press conference on Sunday.
Rahane, who scored 390 runs in IPL 2025, including three half-centuries at a strike-rate of 147.73, added that he’s enjoying the white-ball format. “I’m really happy. In the last two-three years, [in the] white-ball formats, the way I have improved my game. It’s important to grow as a cricketer and as a batsman. That’s what I’m trying to do. People will keep talking, let them talk,” Rahane said.
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