Ajinkya Rahane's Best T20 Knocks: From SMAT 2024 Heroics to Explosive CSK Debut

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Ajinkya Rahane's explosive 98 off 55 balls in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024 semifinal played a key role in Mumbai's win, propelling them into the final. The knock reminded fans of his shot-making ability in the ongoing SMAT season.

His firework-filled knock has set the stage for an exciting IPL 2025, where Rahane will be part of the Kolkata Knight Riders. Before that, let's take a look at some of his best T20 performances.

98 vs Baroda (Strike Rate: 175.00) - SMAT

Ajinkya Rahane's blistering 98 off 55 balls powered Mumbai to a six-wicket win over Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy semifinal. Chasing 158, Mumbai completed the target in just 17.2 overs, with Shreyas Iyer contributing a vital 46. Baroda's 158/7, bolstered by Shashwat Rawat (33) and Shivalik Sharma (36*), fell short against Mumbai's disciplined bowling, led by Suryansh Shedge's 2/11. Mumbai now advances to their second SMAT final.

95 vs Andhra (Strike Rate: 175.92) - SMAT

Ajinkya Rahane impressed once again in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring a brilliant 95 off 54 balls against Andhra. This knock, which included nine boundaries and four sixes, marked his third half-century in the last four matches. Rahane, recently acquired by KKR for IPL 2025, has accumulated 218 runs in five innings. With Mumbai chasing 230, they are 200/6 after 17 overs, needing 30 runs from 13 balls. Rahane's performance has been a highlight of the ongoing tournament.

84 vs Vidarbha (SR: 186.66) - SMAT

Ajinkya Rahane was the standout performer as Mumbai secured a six-wicket win over Vidarbha, chasing down a target of 222 to reach the semi-finals of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Rahane's explosive 84 off 45 balls laid the foundation for the chase, including ten fours and three sixes.

His partnership with Prithvi Shaw, who contributed 49 from 26 balls, added 83 runs in just seven overs. Despite Vidarbha's late surge, Rahane’s leadership and a strong finish from Suryansh Shedge and Shivam Dube guided Mumbai to victory with four balls to spare.

71 vs KKR (SR: 244.82) - IPL

Ajinkya Rahane played a pivotal role in Chennai Super Kings' dominant performance against Kolkata Knight Riders, smashing 71 runs off just 29 balls. His explosive innings featured five sixes and helped set the tone for CSK’s total of 235/4.

Rahane’s aggressive approach was a key part of the 85-run partnership with Shivam Dube, with both players hitting a combined eight sixes in just 32 balls. Rahane’s fearless batting, including a stunning pick-up shot off Umesh Yadav, was instrumental in propelling CSK to a comfortable victory.

68 vs Kerala (SR: 194.28) - SMAT

Ajinkya Rahane continued his red-hot form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, scoring a rapid 68 runs off 35 balls for Mumbai against Kerala. Batting at No. 4, the former Indian captain showcased his power-hitting with five fours and four sixes at a blistering strike rate of 194. Despite his explosive knock, Mumbai fell short by 43 runs, as Kerala posted a challenging total of 234.

This was Rahane's second consecutive half-century in the tournament, following his 52 against Maharashtra. His performance has also led to speculation that he could be named Kolkata Knight Riders' captain for IPL 2025.

61 vs MI (SR: 225.92) - IPL

Ajinkya Rahane made an explosive debut for Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2023, smashing the fastest fifty of the season against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium. Coming in at No. 3, Rahane quickly took charge of the chase after Devon Conway's early dismissal. He started with a couple of runs off Jason Behrendorff and then accelerated, hitting a six and four boundaries in the fourth over off Arshad Khan.

Rahane reached his fifty in just 19 balls, with consecutive fours off Piyush Chawla. He finished with a quickfire 61 off 27 balls before being dismissed. This performance added another impressive chapter to his IPL career, where he has scored over 4100 runs across 106 matches.