Ajinkya Rahane Praises Rohit Sharma After KKR's Loss to CSK

Rahane Congratulates Rohit on Test Retirement

After Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced defeat against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane took a moment to commend his long-time teammate Rohit Sharma on his retirement from Test cricket. Rahane highlighted Rohit's remarkable journey from a middle-order batsman to an opener.

Rohit concluded his 11-year Test career on Wednesday, having played 67 matches for India, leaving a significant leadership gap as the team prepares for the upcoming tour of England, which marks the start of their ICC World Test Championship campaign.

During the post-match press conference, Rahane expressed his surprise at Rohit's retirement, stating, “I wish him all the best; he has excelled in Test cricket. I was genuinely shocked to learn about his retirement. His growth as a Test batsman has been impressive. He transitioned from batting at number five and six to becoming an opener, which was a fantastic adaptation. He always aimed to challenge bowlers and play freely, encouraging others to do the same. I plan to reach out to him once I return to the dressing room.”

Rohit made his Test debut against the West Indies in November 2013 and accumulated 4,301 runs at an average of 40.57, including 12 centuries and 18 fifties. His highest score of 212 was achieved during a memorable home series against South Africa in 2019. He concludes his Test career as India's 16th-highest run-scorer in this format, starting with a notable 177 against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 2013.

Match Highlights and KKR's Performance

Reflecting on the match, Rahane pointed out that the pivotal moment came in the 11th over when Dewald Brevis hit Vaibhav Arora for three fours and three sixes, scoring 30 runs, which shifted the momentum in favor of CSK.

“Vaibhav did his best. Both batters, (Shivam) Dube and (Dewald) Brevis, played bravely and seized their opportunities. We managed to come back into the game later on. With eight runs needed off the last six balls and MS Dhoni at the crease, it was challenging as he can hit a good ball for a six. Russell attempted a yorker, which was a good delivery, but it went for six. Ideally, we would have preferred 14-15 runs for the final over. Batting-wise, a total of 190 was suitable for this pitch. However, we executed our bowling plans well,” he added.

Rahane also noted that if KKR wins their next two matches, they could still qualify for the playoffs, emphasizing the need for a positive mindset. “Russell has regained his form and is also contributing with the ball. Other bowlers are stepping up as well. We have been playing well as a team in the last few games,” he remarked.

After winning the toss, KKR chose to bat first. A solid 58-run partnership between Rahane (48 off 33 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes) and Sunil Narine (26 off 17 balls, with four boundaries and a six) set a good pace for KKR. Contributions from Andre Russell (38 off 21 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) and Manish Pandey (36* off 28 balls, with a four and a six) helped KKR finish at 179/6 in their 20 overs.

Noor Ahmed (4/31) led the bowling attack for CSK, while Anshul Kambhoj and Ravindra Jadeja each took a wicket.

In their chase, CSK found themselves at 60/5 in just over five overs. However, a counter-attacking 51 from Dewald Brevis (in 25 balls, with four fours and four sixes) and a 67-run partnership with Shivam Dube reignited CSK's hopes. Dube (45 off 40 balls, with two fours and three sixes) continued to be aggressive in his partnership with skipper MS Dhoni, bringing CSK close to victory.

In a dramatic turn, Vaibhav Arora dismissed both Dube and Noor Ahmed in the penultimate over, leaving CSK needing eight runs in the final over with two wickets remaining.

Dhoni (17* off 18 balls, with a six) delivered the finish fans were hoping for, hitting Andre Russell for a six on the first ball of the last over and allowing Anshul to score the winning runs. CSK concluded the match at 183/8 in 19.4 overs, marking their third victory of the season.

Despite leaking runs, Vaibhav Arora was KKR's standout bowler with figures of 3/48 in three overs. Varun Chakravarthy (2/18) and Harshit Rana (2/43) also contributed with wickets.

Currently, CSK sits at the bottom of the points table with three wins and nine losses, while KKR has 11 points from five wins, six losses, and one no result in 12 matches, significantly impacting their playoff chances as they occupy the sixth position.