Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are currently playing against Mumbai Indians in the ongoing Indian Premier League at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai. Meanwhile, KKR opener Ajinkya Rahane, who returned to the playing XI got out in a bizarre fashion.
He tried to play reverse sweep twice in two balls against Mumbai Indians but he could not connect the ball on any occasions and in fact, lost his wicket while doing so. It happened in the 11th over which was bowled by Kumar Kartikeya. Rahane tried to play reverse-sweep on the first ball but missed it completely. Then he tried to play again in the next but this time the ball was towards the off stump and Ajinkya Rahane missed it again and eventually it rattled the off stick. With that, he fell for 25 after playing 24 balls as KKR were reduced to 87/2 in 10.2 overs as well.
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However, Mumbai Indians won the toss and opted to bowl first. They put up 64/1 in six overs but then, only managed to reach 87/1 at the end of 10 overs as well. Ajinkya Rahane, who was batting on 25 off 22 balls, then got out while trying the reverse-sweep, which no one could have predicted from his bat as well. Meanwhile, Rahane played second-fiddle to Venkatesh Iyer, who provided KKR with a steady start. He scored 43 off 24 with 3 fours and 4 sixes before losing his wicket in the 11th over.
— Alex (@Alex20574571) May 9, 2022
However, both teams made changes in their playing XI. Shreyas Iyer said in the toss: “I was looking to bat first, the wicket looks green. It’s good that you bat first and find out. Looking at the changes in the batting line up, we have a good batting lineup, we need to put up a good total. The opening partnership has been lacking from the first match. Players are in form, they are out of form, that’s the beauty of game. We need to come up with a fresh mind. We have made five changes. Rahane, Cummins, Venkatesh, Chakaravarthy, Sheldon Jackson come in.”
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma said: “We would like to field first, no particular reason. We keep changing what we want to do as a team. The season has been up and down for us. Everyone games us a new opportunity, we need to put our right foot forward. We have one change, Surya is injured. Ramandeep comes in for him.”
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Here is how Twitterati reacted to Ajinkya Rahane’s dismissal:
Rahane playing reverse sweep😭😭 he was learning it very hard last week at BKC in a separate net and brings it immediately in the first game😭
— Straight Cut (@StraightCut_) March 26, 2022
I just saw Rahane reverse sweep, goodness me 2022 man
— Tingus Pingis (@bent_copper) March 26, 2022
Rahane playing reverse sweep 🤣🤣🤣
— Sherlock (@Zallion) May 9, 2022
Still can't understand…why these technically sound batsmen play that reverse sweep….rohit,rahane,sanju..like c'mon…you can hit ball anywhere in the ground#KKRvsMI
— Pratik (@Pratik19331527) May 9, 2022
Rahane is such a good cricketer down the ground and over covers . To see him get out trying to reverse sweep is disappointing #MIvKKR
— Indiancricketfan (@bleedbluearmy) May 9, 2022
Just saw Ajinkya Rahane trying to reverse sweep a ball and get bowled.
Why dude? Why?
— Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover) May 9, 2022
It is sad when Ajinkya Rahane goes for a reverse sweep to a ball that could have easily been played in a more simplistic fashion. Rahane doesn't need them after all these years. T20 at times just needs suspension of disbelief! #IPL2022 #KKRvMI
— Sudipto Gupta (@SpeaksSudipto) May 9, 2022
Murali Kartik on commentary is bang on:
Playing an agressive shot (reverse sweep in this case) is not Rahane,true that.
But 25(24) in a T20 match while opening, that's definitely him Kartik.#IPL2022
— Akash Kumar Jha (@Akashkumarjha14) May 9, 2022
— Alex (@Alex20574571) May 9, 2022
