The mini-auction for the upcoming edition of the Indian T20 League is underway in Kochi. Former Rajasthan franchise Captain Ajinkya Rahane has been sold to Chennai in the Indian T20 League 2023 mini-auction. The Chennai-based franchise signed the right-hander for his base price of Rs 50 Lakh. They were the only ones who bid for Rahane.
During the 2022 season, Rahane picked up a hamstring injury during Kolkata’s match against Hyderabad, which brought a premature end to his campaign. Rahane finished with 133 runs from seven innings at an average of 19.00 and strike rate of 103.90 and was released before the December mini-auction.
In December 2020, Ajinkya Rahane celebrated what many believed was a seminal Test hundred at the MCG, helping India overcome the ghosts of 36 all-out and level the four-match series against Australia 1-1. In Virat Kohli’s absence, Rahane then went on to lead India to a historic 2-1 series win.
Ajinkya Rahane’s brilliant run in Ranji Trophy
Two years on, Rahane finds himself out of India’s Test squad. He played a Test match in January this year, but he isn’t giving up hope of a comeback, however tough it may be. With Australia set to tour India in February for four Tests early next year, Rahane is keeping himself in the fray by doing the next best thing to score runs in domestic cricket.
Currently leading Mumbai in the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, Rahane has been part of two big wins to start the tournament. In his most recent outing, against Hyderabad in Mumbai, Rahane played a brilliant inning of 204 runs off just 261 deliveries in a massive batting performance that helped his team record a bonus-point victory.
“You always have a memory of good things you have done…how you used to play, what was your style, how much did you shuffle, what was the initial movement. Over the years the changes creep into the game…I think these changes are for good as well as we play matches in different countries. But if I have to score runs consistently, I thought I will refer to old Ajinkya’s batting and try to implement it.” Said, Rahane.
Here’s how fans reacted on Twitter:
Ajinkya Rahane My Age Is 30+
— Saifi🍁 (@Saifii27) December 23, 2022
Csk- pic.twitter.com/8VTSG8Cy23
Bakwas. Tuk tuk ko kharid liya gadho ne
— it's your choice (@FanHuYar) December 23, 2022
Dhobi's perfect replacement
— TOTALKOHLI (@LoyalKohliFan18) December 23, 2022
They need some test players after dhoni so they picked rahane 😂
— Cric_boss (@_mrpeacemaker_) December 23, 2022
Chalo ek test player ko uski test team mil hi gyi
— Kish🙇🏻♂️ (@Kish_tweetz) December 23, 2022
Csk and thier obsession with old players 😂😂😂😂😂
— Denver ⚓⚡ (@savagestranger3) December 23, 2022
We chose a youngster pic.twitter.com/jFlwszwYkw
— Variant (@khtr_nak) December 23, 2022
Get ready for chawla n mishra csk fans😂🤣
— KS (@twenty_four_k) December 23, 2022
