April 30, 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane sustained an injury during the 11th over of Delhi Capitals’ (DC) run chase on April 29, but the experienced batter has shrugged off concerns about its severity. Rahane was struck on his hand when Faf du Plessis played a shot towards cover off Andre Russell’s bowling. Although he immediately left the field, KKR’s victory by 14 runs continued without Rahane’s involvement.
In the post-match press conference, KKR spin-bowling all-rounder Anukul Roy provided an update on Rahane’s condition, revealing that Rahane had received stitches but the injury didn’t appear too serious.
“It doesn’t seem too serious. He might need two or three days. The doctors will give a clearer picture, but for now, he’s okay. He got a few stitches, but it’s manageable,” Anukul said, giving the fans some reassurance after the match.
Rahane, on his part, was confident about the injury and spoke in a relaxed tone after the game, downplaying any fears. “Not bad. I will be okay. I will be fine,” he said during the post-match presentation.
The KKR medical staff will take a call on Rahane’s availability for their next match, scheduled against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens on May 4.
Before leaving the field, Rahane had made a significant contribution in KKR’s innings. He walked in to bat in the fourth over and played a quick-fire cameo, scoring 26 runs from just 14 balls, including a six. His solid contribution in the early overs helped set a solid platform for KKR. However, his innings was cut short as he was dismissed by DC’s captain, Axar Patel.
Following Rahane’s departure, it was Sunil Narine who stepped up and led the team brilliantly. Narine’s performance proved to be a turning point in the game. He dismissed two key DC batters—Axar Patel and Tristan Stubbs—in the 14th over, keeping KKR’s hopes alive and pushing DC back on the ropes.
Anukul Roy, who made his first appearance of the season, also praised Narine’s game-changing spell. “The match had started drifting towards them — they were batting very positively and scoring right away. It felt like we were under pressure. But then Narine came in, bowled brilliantly, and took two to three wickets back-to-back. That charged us all up and brought us right back into the game,” Anukul said.
Anukul was also impressive with the ball, picking up the wicket of opener Abhishek Porel and conceding just 27 runs in his four-over spell. His efforts were crucial in KKR’s victory, and he took great pride in his performance.
As KKR looks ahead to their next fixture, the focus will be on Rahane’s recovery, with the hope that he will be available for the upcoming clash against Rajasthan Royals.