New Delhi: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane He has brushed aside the constant chatter surrounding his career, insisting that he focuses on personal development rather than proving his abilities to critics.Rahane scored 67 off 40 balls against him Mumbai Indians In them IPL Sunday’s clash put him back in the limelight, but the veteran batsman made it clear that outside opinion has little to do with him.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!“Let people talk about me. They have been talking about me for 20 years. Let them talk,” Rahane said when asked if his innings was a statement knock. “I’m not here to show anyone how talented I am and what my game is. People are watching. Let them see. Let them talk.”The 37-year-old, who last played for India in 2023, has faced constant scrutiny, particularly after stepping down from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy captaincy and relinquishing leadership roles in domestic white-ball tournaments. Still, Rahane emphasized that his focus is firmly on developing as a cricketer.“I’m really happy, in the last 2-3 years, the way I’ve improved my game in white-ball formats. It’s important to grow as a cricketer and that’s what I’m trying to do. People will keep talking and let them talk,” he added.‘Bumrah made the difference’Despite trying to get away, Kolkata were unsuccessful as Mumbai easily chased down 221. The captain revealed that he was hampered by pain in the last half of the game.“I was just hurting. It’s a bad feeling to sit out with pain… but I’m really happy with the way I batted first,” he said.Rahane also acknowledged its impact. Jaspreet Bumrahwhose late overs prevented Kolkata from pushing for a big total.“We thought 220 was a good total, we were on track for 235-240, but those two overs from Bumrah made a huge difference, that’s why he’s such a good bowler,” noted Rahane.He admitted that KKR’s relatively inexperienced bowling attack will take time to recover, especially with injuries affecting the balance of the team. “It’s challenging because our bowlers are inexperienced and some are injured but it’s an opportunity for others to step up and make a name for themselves,” he said.Supporting under-fire spinner Varun Chakraborty, Rahane urged patience. “Every player goes through that phase… he shouldn’t think too much about what’s going on,” he added.
