Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane plays a shot during the IPL match against Mumbai Indians. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane has brushed aside the constant chatter surrounding his career, insisting he is focused on personal growth rather than proving his talent to critics.Rahane’s composed 67 off 40 balls against Mumbai Indians in their IPL clash on Sunday once again brought him into the spotlight, but the veteran batter made it clear that external opinions hold little relevance to him.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“Let people talk about me. They have been talking about me since like what, 20 years now. Let them talk,” Rahane said when asked if his innings was a statement knock. “I am not here to show anyone how talented I am and what’s my game. People are watching. Let them watch. Let them talk.”The 37-year-old, who last played for India in 2023, has faced persistent scrutiny, especially after stepping down from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy captaincy and skipping leadership roles in domestic white-ball tournaments. Yet, Rahane underlined that his focus remains firmly on evolving as a cricketer.“I am really happy, in the last 2-3 years, the way I have improved my game in white-ball formats. It’s important to grow as a cricketer and that’s what I am trying to do. People will keep talking and let them talk,” he added.‘Bumrah made the difference’Despite Rahane’s effort, Kolkata fell short as Mumbai chased down 221 with ease. The skipper revealed he was hampered by cramps in the latter half of the game.“I was just cramping. It’s a very bad feeling to sit outside with cramps… but first I’m really happy with the way I batted,” he said.Rahane also acknowledged the impact of Jasprit Bumrah, whose late overs restricted Kolkata from pushing towards a bigger total.“We thought 220 was a good total, we were on track for 235-240, but those two overs from Bumrah made a lot of difference. That’s why he’s such a great bowler,” Rahane noted.He admitted that KKRs relatively inexperienced bowling attack will take time to settle, especially with injuries affecting team balance. “It is challenging because our bowlers are inexperienced and some are injured, but it’s also an opportunity for others to step up and make a name,” he said.Backing under-fire spinner Varun Chakravarthy, Rahane urged patience. “Every player goes through this phase… he should not think too much about what is happening,” he added.