IPL 2025: Not Just Cricket - KKR Captain Ajinkya Rahane played Two Other Sports!

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Ajinkya Rahane may have grown in statures as a cricketer, but he used to play several sports during his childhood days.

Now captaining the Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025, Rahane recently spoke to Knight Club in a heartfelt conversation that took a deep dive into his early years, fitness journey, and the fuel that keeps him going, both on and off the field.

For Rahane, cricket wasn't a choice; it was a calling that came naturally, like it does for countless children growing up in the cricket-mad streets of India.

"Yes, I liked cricket from the very beginning. I mean, everywhere in India, everyone keeps playing. They play in their buildings, they play in complexes. So, I used to play like that," he told Knight Club.

But what separated him from the rest was the sense of joy he felt every time he picked up the bat.

"There was a happiness inside me from the very beginning when I used to go to play cricket. So, there is a passion from the beginning," he said.

Beyond cricket, a young Rahane immersed himself in physical activities that, unknowingly at the time, laid the foundation for his athleticism today. Karate and judo were not just hobbies - they became instrumental in shaping his agility and mental discipline.

"Fit, yes, I am fit. Because at that time, while playing cricket, I used to do Karate as well as Judo. I mean, because of Judo, I got a lot of help in cricket. So, fitness was in my mind from the very beginning," Rahane reflected.

While his fitness journey began early, his understanding of nutrition evolved over time. Like most young athletes in India, he wasn't measuring his food intake or tracking protein grams during childhood.

"No, not at all in the beginning. I never measured that much. As we kept playing and came to different levels, we started getting an idea of what you should eat at what time," he explained.

Under Rahane's captaincy, the Knight Riders have so far won two matches out of their first four in this campaign. KKR will lock horns against Lucknow Super Giants in the next match on Tuesday.