Kolkata Knight Riders' captain Ajinkya Rahane expressed displeasure over criticism regarding his strike rate after the team suffered two losses in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. During a press conference, Rahane suggested that critics were 'jealous' of him, which surprised many observers. Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag commented on Rahane's reaction, stating that players should not engage in confrontations with critics. Sehwag noted that while Rahane appropriately redirected questions about teammate Cameron Green's bowling to Cricket Australia, he failed to maintain the same composure when discussing his own performance. Sehwag drew parallels to how legends like Sachin Tendulkar and Amitabh Bachchan handle criticism, often choosing silence over confrontation. He advised Rahane to focus on his game and let his performance speak for itself, suggesting that scoring runs would silence critics.