Chennai Super Kings pulled off a stellar all-around performance to thrash Mumbai Indians by 8 wickets and register their second win of the ongoing 2023 edition of the tournament.
CSK captain MS Dhoni played a master stroke as he pulled off a selection coup against Mumbai Indians by playing Ajinkya Rahane, the Mumbaikar at his home ground Wankhede Stadium. Not just Rahane helped CSK win the game with his fiery knock, but he also slammed the fastest fifty of this season.
There were many who had ruled out Rahane from getting a chance to play for the franchise after he was picked by CSK at the auction this year. However, Moeen Ali‘s illness opened the gates for Rahane and he grabbed the opportunity with both hands.
Ajinkya Rahane Played A Memorable Knock
Chasing the target of 158 runs, Rahane walked in to bat at the number 3 position and took the game by storm, displaying some eye-catching and brilliant strokes. He was off the mark instantly with two runs. Rahane upped the ante in Behrendroff’s second over as he smashed a pull shot off a short ball over deep fine leg for a stunning six before he unleashed a beast in him in the next over.
With his sensational knock, he made sure that he broke a few records before being dismissed. Rahane smashed the joint-second fastest fifty by a CSK batter in IPL history. Suresh Raina still holds the record of smashing the fastest half-century by a CSK batter. Raina had played a magnificent knock and had smashed fifty off just 16 balls against Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2014.
Rahane, who reached the half-century mark in just 19 balls, equaled Moeen Ali’s record of a 19-ball fifty. The CSK captain MS Dhoni is in 3rd place having smashed a 20-ball half-century in the 2012 edition of the IPL. The list is followed by Matthew Hayden and Faf du Plessis each have a 22-ball fifty in the tournament.
