IPL 2024: Ajinkya Rahane, the man who revived his T20 career in CSK

Chennai Super Kings 2024 team: Ajinkya Rahane has been playing in the IPL since the inaugural 2008 edition. He joined CSK in 2023. (Image source: X/@ajinkyarahane88)

Ajinkya Rahane revived his T20 career with the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) last season. After a string of poor scores from 2020, the seasoned India international crossed the 300-run mark (326) for the first time since 2019 in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The right-hander enjoyed a strike-rate of 172.49 and hit two fifties in 14 matches.

Ajinkya Rahane and IPL go a long way. He has been part of the league since the inaugural edition in 2008, when he represented Mumbai Indians. In 2011, he moved to Rajasthan Royals and formed a good partnership with Rahul Dravid, who later became mentor of the side.

Rahane has 4,400 IPL runs, including two hundreds. He scored in bulk in the 2012 and 2015 seasons. There was a lull in between before he found form in 2019.

In 2012, Rahane smashed 560 runs. He scored his maiden IPL hundred against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The unbeaten 103 off 60 balls set the stage for a Rajasthan Royals win. Three years later, he scored 540 runs.

The second hundred came in 2019 against Delhi Capitals. He was unbeaten on 105 off 63 balls. Being the senior-most player after MS Dhoni, Rahane is captaincy material and will definitely be part of the leadership group.

Rahane has led India in all formats, and has been a successful captain.
In the last season, his unbeaten 71 off 29 balls against the Kolkata Knight Riders highlighted that he is still not finished.

Ajinkya Rahane IPL records

Matches: 172

Runs: 4400

50s: 30

100s: 2

Highest score: 105*

4s: 455

6s: 96