Ajinkya Rahane’s fiery 27-ball fifty POWERS KKR at Wankhede in IPL 2026

Ajinkya Rahane smashes a blistering 27-ball fifty at Wankhede, leading KKR’s strong start and silencing doubts with a commanding knock.

IPL 2026, Ajinkya Rahane, MI vs KKR, Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Wankhede Stadium, Camron Green, Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane fifty, Ajinkya Rahane 27-ball fifty, Angrkrish Raghuvanhsi, — Ajinkya Rahane smashes 27-ball fifty (Source:IANS)

IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Ajinkya Rahane got IPL 2026 off to a flying start as he smashed his 34th IPL fifty off a 27-ball. He silenced all questions over his inclusion with a commanding knock, hitting three fours and five sixes.

Skipper Rahane played a crucial role in Kolkata’s explosive start at the Wankhede, adding 69 runs for the opening wicket with Finn Allen in just over five overs. The New Zealand batter set the tone early, blasting 37 off 17 balls.

Ajinkya Rahane’s impressive knock came to an end at 67 off 40 balls, with Mumbai Indians Shardul Thakur claiming his third wicket. Thakur bowled a full delivery just outside off, tempting Rahane to go for the inside-out shot, but the batter failed to time it properly and caught by skipper Hardik Pandya

Absolute fireworks at the top! 🎆
Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen struck it sweetly in a fiery partnership 👌🔥
pic.twitter.com/LfVPKQpes1
— XwithBoss (@XwithBoss) March 29, 2026

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Rahane answers critics with strong start in IPL 2026

Heading into IPL 2026, Rahane faces significant pressure to turn things around for the Knight Riders. So far, he has responded in style with the bat, showing he is ready to lead from the front and make a strong statement to the team management.

Rahane surpasses Gautam Gambhir

Ajinkya Rahane’s 67-run innings also saw him surpass former captain Gautam Gambhir’s record for the highest individual score by a Kolkata Knight Riders captain against Mumbai Indians in IPL history. Gambhir had previously set the benchmark with 64 runs off 52 balls during the 2016 IPL clash at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, on April 13.

Coming to the match, Rahane set a solid platform alongside the opener Finn Allen(37 off 17) and provided stability in the powerplay and middle overs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi smashed a fiery 51 off just 29 balls in what appeared to be a standout display on a big stage. He eventually fell for 51, caught by Tilak Varma off Hardik Pandya’s bowling after bringing up his fifty.

Rinku Singh remained unbeaten at 33 off 21 balls, ensuring KKR maintained their scoring rate. The innings saw solid contributions across the order, with Cameron Green and others adding depth.

Shardul Thakur picked three crucial wickets

For Mumbai Indians, Shardul Thakur emerged as the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 39 runs. He broke partnerships and restricted the flow at key moments. Other MI bowlers toiled as KKR batters found gaps and cleared the ropes regularly.

The high total of 220 sets up an intriguing chase for MI, who will need a record-breaking effort given the strong KKR bowling lineup featuring Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, and overseas pacers like Blessing Muzarabani.

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