KOLKATA: From being almost unsold to assuming the defending champions’ captaincy, Ajinkya Rahane’s leap has been of more than just faith. Even though Kolkata Knight Riders would have felt they hit a jackpot when Rahane ended up as the best player in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 (SMAT) tournament, the veteran might have been more relieved than happy.
One of the few players who have remained in the IPL since its inception, he almost missed the bus this time. If the IPL auction provided him a lifeline, SMAT gave him a new lease of life. Having accumulated 432 runs at a strike rate of almost 170, the batter who had gathered the red-ball tag like moss on decaying wood, had once again established his T20 credentials.
