India, May 26 -- Kolkata Knight Riders captain Ajinkya Rahane said thoughts of stepping down never crossed his mind despite the side's disastrous start to the IPL season, adding that it is important to show character when the team is struggling.

The former champions endured a miserable start to their IPL campaign, losing five of their opening six matches and sinking to the bottom of the points table.

However, they staged a remarkable turnaround by winning six of their final eight games, briefly reviving hopes of a playoff qualification before eventually falling short.

"For me, I've played cricket all my life with a good attitude. Character has always been very important for me," Rahane said at the post-match press conference after the ...