Huge blow for KKR! Ajinkya Rahane faces INUJRY scare in MI vs KKR match of IPL 2026
(Courtesy : BCCI/IPL)
Ajinkya Rahane scored 67 runs off 40 balls in the first innings of MI vs KKR clash.
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) began their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 campaign on a positive note against five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI). They set a huge total of 221 for MI after excellent knocks from captain Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
KKR aim to improve their record at Wankhede, but they face a challenging task against one of the best batting lineups in the competition. Mumbai Indians have not won their opening match in IPL history since 2012. If they wish to end that streak, MI will have to record their highest ever run chase.
Ajinkya Rahane faces injury scare in MI vs KKR IPL 2026 clash
During MI‘s chase, skipper Ajinkya Rahane suffered na injury scare just before the fourth over was to start. After an expensive first three overs, Varun Chakaravarthy was brought on to pick early wickets. However, just before he was about to bowl, Rahane pulled his calf muscle and required immediate assistance.
The physio was called on to help the skipper, however Rahane looked in lots of discomfort. Eventually he walked out of the field, giving KKR fans a huge moment of concern as this is just their first match. Given his incredible form and captaincy acumen, the three-time champions will desperately hope he is back in action.
Before leaving the field, Rahane had a small laugh with batter Rohit Sharma, which could potentially mean the injury is not too serious. Rinku Singh, KKR’s vice-captain, will now play the role of the stand-in captain, in Rahane’s absence.
MI hammered 80 runs for no loss in the powerplay, scoring against every bowler. Rohit Sharma looked in superb touch, and even got to his half-century in quick time, ably supported by Ryan Rickelton at the other end.
The match would be decided based on how MI batters play against the KKR spinners, with the required rate currently well under control, with all wickets still remaining for the Men in Blue.
Who replaced Rahane as captain during the match?
Rinku Singh took over as the stand-in captain for KKR.
What injury did Ajinkya Rahane suffer?
He suffered a calf cramp during MI’s chase and had to walk off the field.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.