IPL 2018: We Lost Because We Didn’t Apply Ourselves in the Middle - Ajinkya Rahane

Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) fragile middle-order once again came back to haunt them on Tuesday as the Royals now find themselves on the verge of missing out on a playoff spot. Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) thrashed the Royals by six wickets in the must-win clash to register their seventh win of the season.

Asked to bat first, the Royals made a blazing start, racing away to 49 in just three overs. Rahul Tripathi and Jos Buttler added 63 runs for the first wicket – to lay the platform for a good total.

However, a spectacular collapse saw them getting all out for 142 despite being 76 at one stage. With the ball, they could not take the wickets as the Knight Riders chased down the total with two overs remaining.

Speaking after the game, skipper Ajinkya Rahane, whose dismissal triggered the collapse, insisted on learning from the mistakes.

Quick Read: IPL 2018: Match 49, Kolkata Knight Riders vs Rajasthan Royals – Statistical Highlights

Sometimes when you play like that, you get over 200. As a team we have to learn from our mistakes here and go back to Jaipur and play well there,” Rahane was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

Rahane further rued his team’s inability to build big partnerships.

“The start which we got was magnificent. But after that, I feel we did not get any partnership. We lost because we didn’t apply ourselves in the middle while batting. Even in T20 cricket, you have to apply your mind. Through this tournament, I don’t think we batted well except for Jos Buttler. We thought 175-180 was the score possible on this wicket,” he said.

The skipper went on to say that team must now believe in itself in order to do well in the last league game.

“Cricket’s a funny game, we all know, but we have to learn from our mistakes and get it right in the one league game we have,” he said.

Royals will have their task cut out in the final game as they will be without English duo Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who have been called for England Test duty.

“We will miss them. Buttler’s inputs on batting and Stokes’ bowling; he was superb today,” said Ajinkya Rahane.

Stokes took three wickets for 15 against the Knight Riders while Buttler missed his sixth fifty on the trot by 11 runs.

The Royals finish their league campaign on Saturday against Royal Challengers Bangalore in what will be a must-win game for both.

Also read: IPL 2018: 50th Match, Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab – Weather Forecast