“This Is On Me”: Ajinkya Rahane Shoulders Blame For KKR’s Record PBKS Loss | The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 witnessed one of its most dramatic encounters as the Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off a miraculous victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), defending the lowest total in IPL history. In a match that swung like a pendulum, KKR, needing just 112 runs to win, crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for a meager 95, handing PBKS an unforgettable 16-run win.
KKR, led by stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane, seemed to have the game under control after restricting PBKS to 111. With a modest target on a tricky but manageable surface, the Knight Riders were expected to cruise to victory. However, Punjab’s bowlers had other plans.
Yuzvendra Chahal (4 wickets) and Marco Jansen (3 wickets) wreaked havoc, dismantling KKR’s batting lineup with precision. The collapse was so severe that no batter except Rahane (28) crossed the 20-run mark. The experienced skipper, who looked steady at the crease, fell at a crucial juncture, playing an ill-timed shot that turned the tide in PBKS’s favor.
A visibly disappointed Rahane did not shy away from accepting responsibility for the defeat. In the post-match presentation, he said, “Nothing to express. We all saw what happened. I will take the blame as the captain of the team. I played the wrong shot, it was missing, but still, I will take the blame.”
He acknowledged that the batting unit faltered badly despite the bowlers doing a commendable job. “Till when I was batting, we were thinking about the two points. The wicket wasn’t easy, but 111 was chaseable. We batted really poorly,” he admitted.
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PBKS, coming off a heavy defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), had a disastrous start, collapsing against KKR’s spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy. However, their bowlers scripted an incredible turnaround, defending the lowest total ever in IPL history.
The previous record was held by Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who defended 116 against Kings XI Punjab (now PBKS) in 2009. PBKS’s spirited fightback not only broke that record but also kept their playoff hopes alive in a thrilling fashion.
This shocking loss will raise questions about KKR’s middle-order fragility, especially in low-scoring games. With Shreyas Iyer set to return soon, the team will hope to regroup quickly. On the other hand, PBKS’s never-say-die attitude has sent a strong message to other teams—no target is too small if the bowlers believe.
As the IPL 2025 season progresses, this match will be remembered as one of the most unpredictable turnarounds, proving once again that in T20 cricket, the game isn’t over till the last ball is bowled.
