IPL 2024

‘KKR ke saath koi personal dushmani hai bhay ko’ – Fans go berserk as Ajinkya Rahane smashes 71 off 29 for CSK

Published on April 23, 2023

Ajinkya Rahane has been sensational for Chennai Super Kings in the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League. The 34-year-old has scored 138 runs in the four matches played so far in IPL 2023, at an average of 34.50 and an impressive strike rate of 181.58. In the ongoing match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, Rahane remained unbeaten after smashing 71 runs off just 29 balls as CSK posted a mammoth total of 234 runs for the loss of 4 wickets.

Batting first, CSK got a flying start as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway added 73 runs for the first wicket in 7.3 overs. Gaikwad got out after scoring 35 runs off 20 balls. Few overs later, Conway also lost his wicket after a well-made 56 off 40 balls hitting four fours and three sixes. After that, Rahane and Shivam Dube took charge of the innings and put up an firing partnership of 85 runs in just 32 balls.

Dube got out after smashing 50 runs off just 21 balls hitting two fours and five sixes. While Rahane remained unbeaten by smashing six fours and five sixes with a strike rate of 244.83. In the end, Ravindra Jadeja (18 off 8) put the finishing touches as CSK scored the highest total of the season.

Rahane 2.0 in IPL 2023

The ongoing season of IPL is turning out to be the redemption for Rahane after he didn’t had a great outing for the past few seasons. Earlier, Rahane used to play for Rajasthan Royals till 2019. After that, he was picked by Delhi Capitals in 2020 and was released by the franchise after two years. In 2022, KKR picked him for INR 1 crore, but he couldn’t do something big and was released by KKR also. After that, CSK bought him in the 2023 auction at a base price of INR 50 lakh.

He didn’t get featured in the playing XI for the first two matches against Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. But when he got a chance to play against Mumbai Indians he announced his arrival in IPL 2023 by smashing the fastest half-century of the season (17 balls) till now.