Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 8: Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), expressed his disappointment following a narrow two-wicket defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) during an exhilarating Indian Premier League (IPL) match at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

Despite a commendable bowling effort, Rahane recognized that KKR's batting performance fell short, indicating that a pivotal over altered the match's dynamics.

“It was indeed tough to accept this loss,” Rahane remarked post-match, as reported by a sports media outlet. “We were around 10-15 runs short; a target of 185-195 would have been ideal on this pitch,” he noted.

KKR managed to score 179 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in their 20 overs.

While the score was competitive, KKR struggled to defend it, particularly after a remarkable 30-run over from Vaibhav Arora, which shifted the momentum towards CSK.

Reflecting on this crucial moment, Rahane stated, “Absolutely. In this format, a single over can change everything. They (Brevis and Dube) seized their opportunities, and it paid off. It’s all about taking risks, and they did just that.”

Even though the defeat placed KKR in a tough spot, Rahane had no issues with his bowlers' performance. “I have no complaints; the bowlers gave their all,” he praised, commending the team's determination until the final moments.

With only two league matches remaining for KKR, the focus now shifts to their qualification chances. When asked about their strategy moving forward, Rahane kept it straightforward: “We need to win both remaining matches and then see how things unfold.”

The loss means KKR must secure victories in their upcoming games while hoping for favorable outcomes in other matches to maintain their playoff aspirations.