[WATCH] IPL 2025: Ajinkya Rahane lights up Eden Gardens with audacious six off Mohammed Shami

Ajinkya Rahane has played a counter-attacking brand of cricket after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) lost their openers inside the first three overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday, April 3 in the ongoing Match 15 of IPL 2025.

The Eden Gardens in Kolkata is hosting the second game in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Pat Cummins won the toss and invited the home side to bat first. The Sunrisers captain gave his team the initial breakthrough as he dismissed Quinton de Kock in the second over. Mohammed Shami struck in the following over, accounting for the wicket of Sunil Narine.

The defending champions were in a spot of bother at 16/2 when Angkrish Raghuvanshi joined forces with captain Ajinkya Rahane. However, the two Mumbai batters did not let the SRH bowlers exert any more pressure on them, as they played some outrageous strokes inside the powerplay. Rahane set the tone by depositing his opposite number for a six over square leg in the fourth over.

However, in the following over, the right-handed batter hit an even better shot as he used Shami's pace to his advantage. Off the fourth ball of the fifth over, Rahane got inside the line and lapped the former IPL Purple Cap winner for a maximum over backward square leg. The pick-up shot brought back smiles in the KKR camp after the two early wickets jolted them.

Watch Rahane's sixer here

Star Sports@StarSportsIndia

'Spectacular' doesn't even cut it! 😍 #AjinkyaRahane pulls out an innovative stroke for a massive SIX, steering #KKR's recovery after early setbacks! 💪 Watch LIVE action ➡ hotstar.onelink.me/rL9Z/qx121jlz #IPLonJioStar 👉🏻 #KKRvSRH | LIVE NOW on Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi &

08:00 PM · Apr 03, 2025

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Rahane and Raghuvanshi added 81 runs off 51 deliveries for the third wicket. Young leg-spinner Zeeshan Ansari broke the partnership as Rahane was out caught by Heinrich Klaasen in the 11th over. KKR have scored 97 runs in the first 11 overs and with the likes of Andre Russell and Rinku Singh waiting in the dugout, the hosts would hope for a strong finish to the innings.