Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 8: Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has made history by scoring his 5,000th run in the Indian Premier League (IPL), becoming the ninth player to achieve this remarkable feat.
This milestone was reached during KKR's match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
In this game, Rahane delivered an impressive performance, scoring 48 runs off 33 balls, which included four boundaries and two sixes, achieving a strike rate of 145.95.
Over his IPL career spanning 197 matches, Rahane has accumulated 5,017 runs with an average of 30.59 and a strike rate exceeding 124. His record includes two centuries and 33 half-centuries, with a personal best of 105 not out. He now ranks as the ninth highest run-scorer in IPL history.
Rahane's IPL journey has seen him play for several franchises, including Mumbai Indians (2008-10), Rajasthan Royals (2011-15, 2018-19), Rising Pune Supergiant (2016-17), Delhi Capitals (2020-21), Chennai Super Kings (2023-24), and KKR (2022, 2025-onwards).
While with MI, he played 10 matches, scoring 148 runs at an average of 18.50, with a strike rate of 105.71 and a top score of 62 not out.
His most successful period was with RR, where he amassed 2,810 runs at an average of 34.27, including two centuries and 17 fifties in 93 innings, with a best score of 105 not out.
During his time with RPS, he scored 862 runs in 30 matches, averaging 33.15 with a strike rate of 122.79, including eight fifties and a best score of 74, contributing to their runners-up finish in 2017.
His stint with DC was less impressive, as he managed only 121 runs in 11 matches, averaging 13.44, with a best score of 60, which was his only fifty.
In the 2023-24 season, Rahane has rejuvenated his T20 career, scoring 568 runs in 27 matches at an average of 25.82 and a strike rate of 147.53, including two fifties and a top score of 71 not out.
For KKR, he has played 19 matches, scoring 508 runs in 18 innings at an average of 29.88 and a strike rate of over 132, with three fifties and a best score of 61.
After winning the toss, KKR chose to bat first. A significant partnership of 58 runs for the second wicket between Rahane (48 off 33 balls) and Sunil Narine (26 off 17 balls) set a solid foundation for KKR.
Contributions from Andre Russell (38 off 21 balls) and Manish Pandey (36 not out off 28 balls) helped KKR finish their innings at 179/6.
Noor Ahmed was the standout bowler for CSK, taking 4 wickets for 31 runs, while Anshul Kambhoj and Ravindra Jadeja each claimed a wicket.
In response, CSK struggled early, finding themselves at 60/5 within 5.2 overs. However, a spirited 51 from Dewald Brevis (25 balls) and a 67-run partnership with Shivam Dube reignited their chase. Dube scored 45 runs off 40 balls.
Despite a late surge, CSK faced a tense finish, needing eight runs in the final over with two wickets remaining. MS Dhoni (17 not out off 18 balls) sealed the victory with a six on the first ball of the last over, allowing Anshul to hit the winning runs. CSK finished at 183/8 in 19.4 overs, marking their third win of the season.
Vaibhav Arora, despite conceding runs, was KKR's best 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, placing them sixth in the standings.
