Players shouldn’t say this: Virender Sehwag blasts Ajinkya Rahane over controversial remarks
Published - 07 Apr 2026, 10:39 AM | Updated - 07 Apr 2026, 10:41 AM
Former Team India opening batter Virender Sehwag criticized Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane over his recent press conference comments. The KKR captain had defended his strike rate and batting style following the 65-run defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at Eden Gardens.
Ajinkya Rahane faced scrutiny over his scoring rate after scoring eight runs off 10 deliveries against Hyderabad. During the post-match press conference, the right-handed batter said that he has a good strike rate and suggested some critics have hidden agendas, adding that “they don’t like me playing cricket.”
I Don’t Think Players Should Say All Of This - Virender Sehwag on Ajinkya Rahane
Virender Sehwag stated that Ajinkya Rahane does not need to make unnecessary statements. The former Indian cricketer also said that professional players must handle criticism without reacting negatively toward cricket experts and fans.
“I don’t think players should say all of this. I know he is the captain and he was asked why Cameron Green isn’t bowling. He didn’t have a straight answer for that, so he said to ask Cricket Australia," Sehwag said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
“I can understand that. But if someone is questioning my strike rate or batting style, people will praise you and criticise you, but you have to be neutral with both. Why is there a need to engage in such fights?" he questioned.
Sachin Tendulkar Never Answered His Critics - Virender Sehwag
Virender Sehwag provided examples of Indian public figures maintaining their composure under public scrutiny. He stated that legendary Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan and iconic cricketer Sachin Tendulkar always ignored negative comments.
“They seem to be answering the critics, but even Bachchan saab (Amitabh Bachchan) never answered his critics. There couldn’t be a bigger example than Tendulkar, one newspaper had even written ‘Endulkar’."
Rahane recorded strike rates of 172.48, 123.46, and 147.72 across the 2023, 2024, and 2025 IPL seasons, respectively. The opening batter maintained an overall strike rate of 154.34 across all T20 competitions in 2025, including the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, representing Mumbai.
Rain Plays Spoilsport In KKR vs PBKS Clash
The Kolkata Knight Riders captain started his Indian Premier League 2026 campaign with a half-century against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. Ajinkya Rahane scored 67 runs off 40 deliveries at an impressive strike rate of 167.50 before failing against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The Ajinkya Rahane-led team shared points with Punjab Kings (PBKS) after rain abandoned the fixture on Monday. The umpires deemed the Eden Gardens outfield conditions unfit despite strong drainage systems. PBKS moved to the top of the standings with five points, while KKR are at eighth with one point.
Before heavy rain interrupted the recent match, PBKS fast bowler Xavier Bartlett exploited the swing-friendly conditions. The overseas pacer dismissed Finn Allen and Cameron Green in quick succession. Kolkata Knight Riders were reeling at 25 for two within four overs before the rain interruption.
Also read: "Difficult to keep him out" - RCB coach confirms Devdutt Padikkal's India comeback amid IPL 2026
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Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla...
