IPL 2026: 'He was struggling, but…'– Ajinkya Rahane opens up on Finn Allen’s transformation

Ajinkya Rahane reflected on a complete performance from Kolkata Knight Riders after their commanding eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals, praising both the batting heroics of Finn Allen and the consistency of his bowling unit.

KKR sealed their fourth straight win in IPL 2026 after first restricting Delhi to 142/8 with a disciplined spin display, before Allen’s unbeaten 100 off 47 balls finished the chase in ruthless fashion.

Rahane said he was particularly pleased to see Allen turn a difficult start to the season into a match-winning knock.

“First of all, let me just say I'm really happy for Finn Allen. He was struggling first four or five games, working really hard, but the way he batted tonight was fantastic,” Rahane said.

He also highlighted how KKR’s bowlers set the tone for the win, especially in the middle overs where Delhi lost control after a promising start from Pathum Nissanka and KL Rahul.

“But I want to praise our bowlers again. We did well because of them. Especially those middle overs and death overs, they’ve been doing it so consistently,” he added.

Rahane reserved special praise for the spin trio of Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy and Anukul Roy, who combined to choke Delhi’s scoring rate and trigger a collapse.

“Our spinners have been fantastic. Narine, Varun and Anukul Roy, they understand conditions so well. They make my job easy as a captain,” Rahane said.

He also underlined the impact of the support staff in shaping KKR’s fielding and bowling standards.

“Our fielding coach has been really strict with us. That’s why you are seeing the difference in catches and ground fielding. Credit goes to him as well,” he noted.

Rahane further spoke about the team’s mindset and discipline in pressure situations.

“It’s all about staying in the moment. What we discuss in the dugout and dressing room is simple, just focus on the next ball. That has helped us,” he said.

On Narine’s role, Rahane added: “You don’t have to tell him too much. He is always ready. Even in practice, he is learning and sharing his experience. I’m lucky as a captain.”

He also praised bowling coaches Tim Southee and Dwayne Bravo, along with young performers like Kartik Tyagi and Anukul Roy for stepping up.

“Overall, as a bowling unit, we are doing really well. But it’s important we stay grounded. One game at a time,” Rahane concluded.