Ajinkya Rahane Hails MS Dhoni and Chennai Super Kings for IPL Transformation
Rahane smashed 71 off 29 balls [AP Photos]
The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is in full swing, and one of the players who has been making headlines this season is Ajinkya Rahane.
After being picked up by Chennai Super Kings for his base price of INR 50 lakh during the 2023 mini-auction, he has been punching above his weight, and has now become a valuable asset to the team.
The 34-year-old was brought in as a replacement for Moeen Ali in the match against Mumbai Indians and he wasted no time in making his presence felt for the Super Kings, playing a match-winning knock of 67 runs off just 27 balls, helping his team secure a comfortable victory over their old rivals.
With 209 runs in just five games and a staggering strike rate of 199.05, Rahane has been instrumental in the team's success so far, along with Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
The Mumbai batter once again proved his mettle with a sensational half-century against the Kolkata Knight Riders in their most recent fixture. He scored an unbeaten 71 runs off just 29 deliveries, to help CSK post 235 runs - the highest total of the season.
The four-time champions registered a massive 49 runs victory in that match. In the post-match conference, Rahane opened up on his recent heroics, stating:
"The only thing I tell you... I really enjoyed my knock, really happy that we won this match. You get a chance to learn many things when you play under Mahi Bhai (MS Dhoni). As a batter and cricketer, you always want to grow. The way the format is evolving, I feel as an individual you have to keep growing and developing your skills.”
Rahane didn't shy away from taking a subtle jab at his former team, Kolkata Knight Riders, for not giving him enough chances to showcase his skills. Furthermore, he also expressed his gratitude towards Chennai Super Kings for providing him with the opportunity to prove himself and described playing for the team as a turning point for him.
"The turning point is here I'm getting chances to play. I was really happy when CSK picked me. They gave me an opportunity to play and express myself. If you see, I was not getting opportunities to play one-two years ago. And, if you don't play matches, how would you show what shots you have in your armoury?”
Thanks to his recent good run of form, Ajinkya Rahane has been included in India's WTC final squad. With Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer out, the veteran batter could get the nod to play against Australia in the final.
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