Ajinkya Rahane delivered a captain’s knock of authority at the Wankhede Stadium, dismantling a long-standing benchmark set by Gautam Gambhir. Opening the innings, Rahane’s fluent 67 off 40 balls, laced with five sixes and three boundaries, powered Kolkata Knight Riders to a commanding start against the Mumbai Indians. In the process, he registered the highest individual score by a KKR captain versus MI in IPL history.
Gambhir’s long-standing record finally eclipsed
For nearly a decade, Gambhir’s 64 off 52 balls in 2016 stood as the benchmark for KKR captains against Mumbai.
Also Read । Why does IPL have only 70 matches with 10 teams? The rule explained
That innings, crafted at Eden Gardens, symbolised control and resilience. Rahane’s effort not only surpasses it numerically but also reflects a more aggressive modern template, signalling his intent early in the season.
KKR captains and the Mumbai challenge
Performing against Mumbai has historically tested KKR leadership. While Gambhir features multiple times among notable knocks, contributions from Sourav Ganguly (42) and Eoin Morgan (39*) underline the difficulty of dominating MI’s bowling units. Rahane’s innings now sets a new gold standard within this elite but challenging subset.
Also Read । No Dewald Brevis, No MS Dhoni : Who fills CSK’s explosive void vs Rajasthan Royals?
Despite Rahane’s milestone, the all-time IPL record for the highest score as captain against Mumbai remains with KL Rahul. Representing Lucknow Super Giants in 2022, Rahul struck two unbeaten centuries (103*), a feat unmatched at the top. Close behind are Virat Kohli (92*), David Warner (90*), Shreyas Iyer (87*), and Steve Smith (84*), all of whom have produced defining captain’s innings against MI.
