Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane added a new milestone to his illustrious career by surpassing West Indies great Chris Gayle to become the ninth-highest run-scorer in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The achievement came during Match 53 of the ongoing 18th edition of the league.
Rahane played a composed knock of 30 runs off 24 balls, including two sixes and a boundary. This innings pushed his overall IPL tally to 4,969 runs from 181 innings, overtaking Gayle’s 4,965 runs, which were scored in 141 innings before his retirement in 2021.
Throughout his IPL career, Rahane has maintained a strike rate of 124.72 and an average of 30.48, registering 33 half-centuries and two centuries. His highest score in the tournament remains an unbeaten 105. In comparison, Gayle, renowned for his explosive batting, boasted a strike rate of 148.96 and an average of 39.72, with six centuries and 31 fifties.
As for the match, KKR won the toss and elected to bat first. After an early setback with Sunil Narine’s dismissal, a solid partnership between Rahane and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (35 off 25) laid the foundation. The middle order then accelerated the innings with a 61-run partnership between Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 off 31) and Andre Russell, who remained unbeaten on a blistering 57 off just 25 balls. Russell, along with Rinku Singh (19* off 6), helped KKR post a formidable total of 206/4 in 20 overs.
In response, Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced early trouble at 71/5. However, a remarkable 92-run stand between captain Riyan Parag (95 off 45) and Shimron Hetmyer (29 off 23) brought them back into contention. Despite a late surge by Shubham Dubey (25* off 14) and Jofra Archer (12 off 8), RR narrowly fell short, ending their innings at 205/8.
KKR’s bowling attack was led by Varun Chakravarthy (2/32), Harshit Rana (2/41), and Moeen Ali (2/43), who played crucial roles in containing the Royals’ chase and securing a thrilling one-run victory.
Ajinkya Rahane’s IPL Career Progression:
Rahane’s journey in the IPL has been marked by consistent performances across various teams:
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2008-2010: Limited opportunities with Mumbai Indians.
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2011-2015: Breakthrough with Rajasthan Royals, becoming a mainstay in the top order.
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2016-2017: Represented Rising Pune Supergiant during RR’s suspension.
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2018-2019: Returned to RR, continued to anchor the innings.
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2020-2021: Stint with Delhi Capitals, played a supporting role.
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2022: Joined Kolkata Knight Riders, contributing as a senior player.
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2023: Played for Chennai Super Kings, showcasing aggressive intent.
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2024-Present: Back with KKR, leading the side and achieving personal milestones.
Throughout his IPL career, Rahane has been known for his technical proficiency and adaptability, allowing him to succeed across different teams and roles.
