IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane Regrets Not Taking DRS, Blames ‘Unclear’ Call From Raghuvanshi For LBW Exit

April 16, 2025: In one of the most dramatic collapses of IPL 2025 so far, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) crashed from 62 for 2 to 95 all out, failing to chase a modest target of 112 set by Punjab Kings (PBKS). The collapse was triggered by a controversial LBW dismissal of skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who chose not to review the on-field decision, only for replays to later show he would have survived.

The moment that turned the tide came in Yuzvendra Chahal’s first over, when Rahane was struck on the pads and given out. Although DRS could have saved him—the ball tracker showed impact was outside off-stump—Rahane opted against the review. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he acknowledged the error, calling it a “miscommunication” with batting partner Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

“As a batter, I thought I could save the review for later,” Rahane said. “It shouldn’t happen that I take a review and lose it, then we are only left with one review. The communication between the two batsmen wasn’t that clear.”

“Raghuvanshi wasn’t sure—he said maybe it could be umpire’s call. So I didn’t take the risk. But no complaints. Apart from that, we were poor as a batting unit.”

The aftermath was swift and brutal. Chahal, buoyed by Rahane’s exit, dismissed Raghuvanshi (37 off 28) in his next over. In his third, he struck a double blow by removing Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh off successive balls, leaving KKR in tatters.

From there, the innings unraveled rapidly, with no other batter offering resistance as PBKS sealed a crucial win and handed KKR their fourth loss in seven games this season.

Turning Point: DRS Not Taken

Rahane’s decision not to review was a pivotal moment. Though replays confirmed the ball would have missed the stumps due to impact outside off, the KKR captain explained his caution stemmed from team strategy and a lack of clarity in real-time.

“Generally, you trust the batter at the non-striker’s end. But when it’s a maybe, it’s difficult. That was the call I made, and I accept the consequences.”

Chahal Shines for PBKS

Chahal finished with 4 wickets, including key breakthroughs that dismantled the KKR middle order. His spell turned what could have been a straightforward run chase into a nightmare for the Knight Riders.

Next Up for KKR: Kolkata return home to face Gujarat Titans (GT) on April 21, hoping to regroup and keep their playoff hopes alive.