The former Indian cricketer Ajinkya Rahane continued his stellar form in the SMAT 2024 semifinals after a brilliant 98 knock in 55 deliveries leading Mumbai to the finals.
Mumbai completed the chase of Baroda’s 158 runs with 16 balls and six wickets in hand. Rahane, who is among the top contenders to lead KKR in the 2025 season smashed 11 fours and 05 sixes laying the foundation for Mumbai’s successful chase.
Captain Shreyas Iyer provided stellar support blasting a 30-ball 46 in a 88-run partnership with Rahane for second wicket. Iyer’s knock featured 03 sixes and 04 fours, kept Mumbai well ahead of the required run rate.
Suryakumar Yadav‘s 19 and Suryansh Shedge, who finished the chase with a six, sealed the comprehensive win.
Some 90s feel like a Hundred 🥺👏 pic.twitter.com/v8FsyridZw
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) December 13, 2024
Mumbai’s disciplined bowling unit by restricting Baroda to a modes total. Baroda started positively with Krunal Pandya (30 runs) and Shaswat Rawat (33 runs) taking the scores to 73 runs in nine overs. However, a sharp spell from Suyansh Shedge, who dismissed Krunal triggered a dramatic collapse.
But Baroda slipped from 73/1 to 106/6 with Mumbai’s bowlers maintaining relentless pressure. Cameo performance from Atit Sheth (26*) and Shivalik Sharma’s (21) injected some momentum adding 53 runs in the final five overs.
Rahane’s current performance could serve as a strong contender for the next KKR captain.
After releasing Shreyas Iyer ahead of the auction, the defending champions are on the verge of searching new captain for the 18th edition of the season.
Rahanae joined the KKR squad for a base price of INR 1.5 crore during the IPL 2025 auction.
Rahane has scored 366 runs in eight SMAT matches and is currently the top scorer in the 2024 edition. Rahane could face Venkatesh Iyer in the final if Madhya Pradesh beat in Delhi in the second SMAT srmifinal.
The finals of the SMAT will be played on December 15 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
