Ajinkya Rahane is batting like Brendon McCullum: Eoin Morgan

The Chennai Super Kings outplayed the Kolkata Knight Riders in a crucial IPL 2023 match at the iconic Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata, moving to the top of the points table with a 49-run victory. Batting first, the Super Kings saw three players score half-centuries, with Shivam Dube leading the way with 50 off 21 balls, followed by Devon Conway’s 56 off 40 and Ajinkya Rahane’s unbeaten 71 off 29, helping the team to reach a mammoth total of 235 runs, the highest ever at the Eden Gardens in the IPL.

Although Jason Roy managed to top score for KKR with a quickfire 61 off 26, Rinku Singh’s half-century was not enough to save the team from a crushing defeat, as they fell short of the target with a total score of 186 runs.

Former CSK champion and JioCinema IPL expert Robin Uthappa lauded the team’s setup for their ability to bring out the best in their players. He pointed out how Ajinkya Rahane’s career had undergone a revival since joining the Chennai franchise, “Today’s innings prove that he’s found a second wind in his career and it will go on for longer.”

According to Uthappa, the secret to CSK’s success is their clear communication and the confidence they instill in their players, particularly proven senior professionals. “If you give a good player security, he’ll 100% perform well,” he added.

Rahane’s fantastic batting display earned him the Player of the Match award, and even KKR captain Eoin Morgan had high praise for him, comparing his new style to that of IPL legend Brendon McCullum. “This is closer to Brendon McCullum-style batting than Ajinkya Rahane,” Morgan said, noting how the Super Kings’ clear communication and freedom had allowed Rahane to play his natural game.

Morgan also acknowledged the impressive opening partnership between Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway, stating that their confidence and momentum made it challenging for the opposition to stop them, particularly on a small ground like the Eden Gardens. Overall, it was a dominant performance by the Super Kings, who demonstrated once again why they are one of the most successful franchises in the IPL.