KXIP lost the game despite 115-run opening stand while chasing 165.
Chasing 165 to win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Abu Dhabi, KXIP were cruising with Rahul (74 off 58 balls) and Mayank Agarwal (56 off 39 balls) sharing a 115-run stand for the opening wicket.
However, Prasidh Krishna (3-29) and Sunil Narine (2-28) scripted KKR’s comeback in the last five overs to defeat KXIP by 2 runs.
"I have no answers. We just need to keep coming harder in the next seven games. We bowled really really well. This was a fresh strip so we didn't know what were good lines and lengths," said Rahul during the post-match presentation ceremony.
"And the bowlers adjusted really well. And they were brave at the death too," he added.
While Krishna removed Rahul (74 off 58 balls), Simran Singh (4) and conceded only 6 runs in the penultimate over, Narine dismissed Nicholas Pooran (16), Mandeep Singh (0) and defended 14 runs in the last over to ensure KXIP’s nail-biting victory.
"Don't think we were satisfied at any stage in the chase. You are satisfied only when you win the game. Towards the end, we kept losing wickets, and couldn't get us over the line," said Rahul.
KXIP will take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in their next match on Thursday (October 15).