KKR fell short of playoff qualification despite the mid-season resurgence.
Ajinkya Rahane on Sunday (May 24) said thoughts of stepping down as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain never crossed his mind, emphasizing that true leadership is defined by showing character and resilience when a team is struggling.
Despite a disastrous first half where they lost five of their first six matches and bottomed out on the points table, the team rallied under his leadership to win six of their final eight fixtures.
While the mid-season resurgence kept the tournament alive and briefly renewed hopes of a top-four finish, KKR ultimately fell short of playoff qualification. The three-time champions finished their campaign with a 40-run defeat to Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Eden Gardens on Sunday.
"For me, I've played cricket all my life with a good attitude. Character has always been very important for me," Rahane said at the post-match press conference.
"I'm never one to back down. When the team is down, when the team is struggling, it's very important to show your character at that time. I am never one that steps down. When the team is struggling, it is important to show your character.
"Yes, there's pressure. It's very natural but the pressure is on those who are privileged. Not everyone can handle the pressure. For me, it was important to stay strong and not panic. It's very easy when you lose 5-6 matches, your focus shifts to the past and the future," he added.
Rahane himself endured an underwhelming campaign with the bat, amassing 335 runs in 14 innings at a strike rate of 135.
"It's important that you stay in that moment. Things can turn around any time. We've seen in a lot of matches and series how things change. It's very important to maintain that attitude and character. I'm never one to back down. Those thoughts (of stepping down) never came to me," he stated.
With primary fast-bowling options like Harshit Rana and Akash Deep sidelined by injuries, and Mustafizur Rahman being released by the franchise on BCCIs instructions, Rahane leaned on home-grown domestic talent.
The skipper gave immense credit to youngsters like Kartik Tyagi and Anukul Roy, noting that their clear role definitions and strong attitude kept the franchise's playoff hopes alive for so long.
"We lost a few players during the season and it's challenging all the time, but I was not looking at that. I was confident about and wanted to give time to the Indian bowlers. I knew that, I was confident that if we back them, if we give them that time, they will do really well under pressure," Rahane remarked.
Tyagi emerged as one of KKR's most reliable pace options, bagging 18 wickets to claim the third-highest tally among Indian bowlers during the league stage. On the other hand, Roy provided crucial balance and composure, claiming 9 wickets in 12 innings while remaining unbeaten in two successful run chases for the team.
"When we sat down at the start of the season, I thought, this is a great time for Anukul to come in and play each and every game," Rahane said.
"He had a fantastic Syed Mushtaq Ali season. I believe that whoever has a good season in the domestic league, you carry that confidence forward. Anukul Roy just did that.
"Talking about Kartik Tyagi, he was clear. We played practice games - two, three practice matches. He was really clear about his thought process. You will go for runs as a bowler but as long as you're clear what you want to do for your team, that's what matters.
"For these two guys, this is just the beginning. I'm sure they have the potential to do really well in the future and go and play at the highest level as well," he concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)