Ajinkya Rahane is in some breathtaking form at the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Tournament 2024. The veteran cricketer, who was once the India vice-captain in the red ball format, on Wednesday became the leading run-scorer of the tournament and helped Mumbai beat Baroda by six wickets to advance to the final. Rahane blasted 98 off 56 deliveries as Mumbai completed the 159 chase with 2.4 overs to spare.
The performance by Rahane took his run tally to 432 runs from seven innings, 79 more than currently second placed Sakibul Gani representing Bihar. Rahane, who has been enjoying red-hot form, showed similar tempo on Wednesday against an attack comprising premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Batting at a strike-rate of 175, he smashed eleven 4s and five 6s. Unlike the previous time, Rahane didn't find support from his opening partner Prithvi Shaw, who was packed for 8(9) by Pandya. Baroda, however, failed to capitalise on the early blow as he along with Mumbai skipper Shreyas Iyer stitched 88 runs for the second wicket.
Iyer was dismissed for 46(30) by Atith Sheth, which reduced Mumbai to 118/2 in 12.2 overs. But by the time Baroda managed to break the stand the contest was already in Mumbai's grip, following which Rahane stood tall in the middle till the scores were on level terms.
Rahane has so far slammed five 50-plus scores in the tournament and has hit 42 boundaries and 19 maximums. His form comes at a time when Indian batters are failing regularly at the international circuit, a point also highlighted by fans on social media. Here are a few reactions:
Ajinkya Rahanes Routine Eat. Sleep. Score big. Repeat pic.twitter.com/0dMuEEjrlv
KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 13, 2024
Ajinkya Rahane is not even knocking the doors of selection now. He is breaking it pic.twitter.com/XrEdCiCvyA Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 13, 2024
Ajinkya Rahane practiced for video shoot so he could post every time an Indian batter failed.Now, Indian batters failed so much that my bro over practiced and results are showing in SMAT.
Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) December 13, 2024
Nobody really believed him when he said"I'm still young and there's a lot of cricket left in me"Rahane #rahane #SMAT pic.twitter.com/7EnGZjgKGF What The Cricket (@WhatThe_cricket) December 12, 2024
Mumbai will now meet either Delhi or Madhya Pradesh in the final, which will be played at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru on December 15.
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