3 min readMay 25, 2026 07:30 AM IST Kolkata Knight Riders’ campaign that started on a dismal note where they lost 5 of their first 6 matches, got a flicker of hope after their stellar run of consecutive victories but the early defeats proved to be the difference as the missed out of the play-offs for the second year running. Skipper Ajinkya Rahane was asked when the pressure was building on the team and on himself after the string of defeats, if he had considered stepping down as captain or taking himself off the playing XIs in select matches. The 37-year-old replied that he has never backed away from any challenges or problems and preferred to stay in the present so those thoughts of leaving captaincy did not cross his mind. “We as cricketers are where we are because of the fans. They will appreciate when we do well and also criticize us when we do badly. This is a part of the game. Every cricketer understands this. Talking about myself, I have always played …