Ajinkya Rahane 2.0 is the amazing story of IPL 2023. He seems to have reached a dead end not too long ago. The Mumbai stylist was excluded from the Indian squad in all forms and rejected by all franchises; he had no idea where his career was headed. Rahane was previously the captain of the Indian squad, and MS Dhoni shared the Mumbai man’s conviction that he still has what it takes to make a difference.
CSK would have picked him from the big auctions last year itself, but Kolkata Knight Riders took him. Predictably enough, KKR couldn’t utilise the potential that a senior pro like Rahane brings to the table, and he was released after the last IPL.
This time, CSK purchased him at his basic price in search of an experienced Indian hitter who could stabilise the top order. And right now, Rahane is creating waves once more, just as he did for Rajasthan Royals in the first IPL in 2008.
He has scored 209 runs at an average of 52.25 in his five IPL innings so far, but his strike rate of 199.04, which is astounding given the way Rahane has played the majority of his cricket so far, sticks out.
Rahane’s talent needed to be recognised, according to Dhoni, the man responsible for the turnaround.
Senior players who were passed over by other teams have previously found success at CSK. After being rejected by the majority of franchises, tested players like Ashish Nehra, Shane Watson, Ambati Rayudu, and Harbhajan Singh discovered a new lease of life in Chennai.
Rahane was aware going into the IPL that it was critical to have self-confidence. He said that one can do anything if their mind is clear.
Rahane expressed his gratitude towards CSK, saying that the fact that he is receiving opportunities to play is crucial for him, and he was overjoyed when CSK selected him.
About Dhoni, Rahane said that when playing under Dhoni, one has the opportunity to learn a lot, and as a batter, one is constantly trying to become better.
