Finn Allen played a blinder as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) hammered Delhi Capitals (DC) by eight wickets in their IPL 2026 encounter at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Friday (May 8).
Chasing 143, Allen smashed 100 not out off 47 balls, including 5 fours and 10 sixes, as KKR reached home in 14.2 overs. This result marked KKR's fourth consecutive victory, reviving their season after six winless matches.
Speaking during the post-match presentation, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane lauded Allen’s effort with the bat, attributing his turnaround after a difficult start to the season to the hard work he put in.
“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.
Rahane was effusive in praise of Sunil Narine (1-17), Varun Chakaravarthy (0-28), and Anukul Roy (2-31) for their brilliant bowling performances, restricting DC to 142/8. He also commended 'strict' fielding coach Dishant Yagnik for improvements in fielding.
“I want to praise our bowlers again. We did well because of them. And they've been doing it so well consistently, especially those middle overs and the death overs. Our spinners, Sunil Narine, Varun and Anukul Roy, has been fantastic. Fielding-wise, yes, we are working really hard. Our fielding coach has been really strict with us. And that's what has been helping us. The result which you've been seeing about the catches and the ground fielding, credit goes to our fielding coach as well,” Rahane added.
Rahane emphasized that as a captain, he doesn't need to over-manage Narine and Chakaravarthy, preferring to leave them alone because they are self-driven and constantly learning.
“(Conversation with Narine) I think just leave him alone. As a captain, I'm so lucky to have Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy in our side. You don't have to tell them too much. He's learning every day, even the practice session, he's there, attentive, trying to learn something or the other from other players as well. Sharing his experience with everyone. That's what helped me also on the field, sharing his experience. So, I'm really happy that whenever I tell him, Sunny, if you have to bowl, come and bowl. He's always ready for that. It's all about staying in the moment, what we discuss in the dugout and the dressing room. It's always about being in the moment. We've been playing very good cricket in the first five games. Those crucial moments in this format is really important. If you're attentive, if you're proactive, and then being in the moment, that's what helped us,” he remarked.
Ajinkya Rahane credited bowling coaches, Tim Southee and Dwayne Bravo, for their hard work with the bowlers.
“I want to give credit to our bowling coaches, Tim Southee and Dwayne Bravo. They've been working really hard with our bowlers. It's been fantastic.”
Speaking of his two domestic talents, Anukul and Kartik Tyagi, Rahane said: “I'm really happy for Anukul Roy, who had a fantastic domestic season. Kartik Tyagi has been really good, very clear in his mindset, very confident guy. These two guys have been really good. But overall, as a bowling unit, we are doing really well.”
Sharing an update on Chakaravarthy’s injury, Rahane confirmed the mystery spinner is fine, noting his discomfort only while fielding.
“(On Varun) He's fine. As long as Varun is bowling, he's happy. When he's fielding, he just wants to go inside. But he's fine. He's absolutely fine. One game at a time,” Rahane concluded.
