The reports of him potentially becoming the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain have energised Ajinkya Rahane. The Mumbai batter had already hit two half-centuries in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2024-25, prior to the reports, and post that has scored 117 runs. In the last game against Services, he scored 22 runs and now has scored 95 runs against Andhra Pradesh, which helped Mumbai chase down 230, the highest-ever total in SMAT history.
Ajinkya Rahane in-form in SMAT
Rahane has hit just 2 centuries in his T20 career and was on the verge of hitting his second century. His last ton came in the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), and since then, he’s struggled. The only season where he struck over 125 was in 2023. But, he’s found himself once again. However, in the ongoing SMAT season, he averages 50 and has a strike rate of 162.33 with three fifties in six matches.
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Opening with Prithvi Shaw, Rahane played second fiddle. Prithvi’s blitzkrieg came to an end in the fourth over, but he’d done his job with a 34(16). Captain Shreyas Iyer took over for Prithvi and smoked an 11-ball 25 before going out as well. Rahane carried on. Suryakumar Yadav failed, but Shivam Dube hit 34(18) and kept Mumbai in the game.
Rahane unfortunately fell for 95, just five short of his hundred. It looked like Mumbai would lose the slot from there, but Suryansh Shedge played a blinder of an innings (30 off 8) and took them home, creating the record of the highest successful run chase in SMAT history.
Highest successful run chase in SMAT history
- 230 – Mumbai v Andhra, 2024
- 227 – Pondicherry v Andhra, 2021
- 222 – Baroda v Tamil Nadu, 2024
- 213 – Kerala v Delhi, 2021
- 213 – by Vidarbha v Bengal
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