[Watch] KKR’s ₹1.5 crore buy plays a dazzling knock in Mumbai vs Baroda SMAT 2024 semifinal
Ajinkya Rahane, the newest addition to the Kolkata Knight Riders for IPL 2025, caught everyone’s attention with a stunning half-century for Mumbai in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024 semi-final clash against Baroda. The match took place on Friday, December 13, at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Batting first, Baroda posted a total of 158/7 in their 20 overs, with Shivalik Sharma top-scoring with an unbeaten 36 off 24 balls. In reply, Mumbai lost their opener, Prithvi Shaw, cheaply for eight. However, Ajinkya Rahane and skipper Shreyas Iyer took charge.
Rahane made his intentions clear from the second over, smashing two boundaries and a six off Lukman Meriwala. He continued to attack and brought up his fifty off 28 balls with a six off Hardik Pandya.
Rahane added 88 runs for the second wicket with Iyer, who made 46 off 30 balls. Rahane kept up the momentum but fell short of a well-deserved century, getting dismissed for 98 off 56 balls while attempting a big shot. The 36-year-old hit 11 boundaries and five sixes in his innings.
Here’s a video of Ajinkya Rahane’s innings of 98 runs against Baroda:
Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for just one off seven balls, but Suryansh Shedge finished the game in style for Mumbai with a six. Shreyas Iyer's side triumphed by six wickets with 16 balls remaining, clinching their spot in the SMAT 2024 final, set to be played on Sunday, December 15.
“Hundreds will keep happening but it is about winning matches” - Ajinkya Rahane reflects on his 98-run knock in the SMAT 2024 semi-final
During the post-match presentation, while accepting his Player of the Match award, Ajinkya Rahane expressed his satisfaction with his performance in the tournament and emphasized the importance of capitalizing on the batting powerplay. He said:
“Really happy with the way I am batting. Happy we won the match, hundreds will keep happening but it is about winning matches, keeping the positive intent and playing for the team. The way T20 is moving, you need to capitalize on the first six overs. I was batting at number 4 initially but I was told by the team management to open the batting, and I realise it is important to capitalize in the powerplay.”
“We have batters who can tonk the ball all around the ground later on, so that makes my job easier. We sit together during our practice sessions and we like to have one on one sessions, our job is to share our experience and give the youngsters that freedom,” Rahane added [as quoted by Cricbuzz].
Rahane is the leading run-scorer in SMAT 2024, having accumulated 432 runs in seven innings, including five half-centuries.