April 30, 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane is set to undergo a medical assessment following a hand injury sustained during his side’s tense 14-run victory against Delhi Capitals at Eden Gardens on Tuesday night.
Rahane was struck on the hand by a fierce shot from Faf du Plessis off Andre Russell’s bowling in the 12th over of the Capitals’ innings. Positioned at short cover, Rahane took the blow while attempting a stop, prompting immediate medical attention. He left the field and did not return for the remainder of the match, watching from the sidelines with his hand heavily strapped.
Despite the injury, Rahane remained optimistic in his post-match comments. “Not bad. I will be okay. I will be fine,” he said, downplaying the incident. A KKR spokesperson later told ESPNcricinfo that early signs suggested the injury wasn’t serious, though team physio Prasanth Panchada is expected to conduct a detailed assessment on Wednesday morning.
With Rahane off the field, vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer was temporarily replaced by Vaibhav Arora, and veteran spinner Sunil Narine stepped up to lead the side for the remainder of the match. Narine’s leadership, particularly his decisive final two overs, proved pivotal in KKR’s defense of 204.
Reflecting on the win, Rahane admitted his team might have fallen slightly short with the bat. “204 on that wicket was good, but I thought we were 15 runs short, frankly,” he said. “As a fielding team, you’re one or two wickets away, and that’s what happened.”
KKR, currently placed seventh on the points table with nine points from ten matches, are still in playoff contention. Drawing inspiration from their 2021 comeback, Rahane emphasized the importance of momentum. “That’s always been the talk when we are not doing well. But again, it’s in the past. For us, what’s important is staying in the moment, taking confidence from this game, and moving forward.”
KKR now await further clarity on Rahane’s availability as they prepare for a crucial stretch in the league stage.