Two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have roped in veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane for his base price of ₹1 crore at the IPL 2022 mega auction in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Rahane was part of the Delhi Capitals last season, however, warmed the benches for most of the tournament. He didn’t get a chance to bat in the first game and managed a run-a-ball eight in the second.
Overall, Ajinkya Rahane has amassed 3941 runs in 151 IPL matches at a strike rate of 121.34. He has 28 half-centuries and two hundreds to his name.
Meanwhile, the fans expressed surprise that Rahane even invited bids at the auction on social media. While some fired shots at KKR for putting their money on the 33-year-old, some others stated that it was a steal deal by the franchise.
Here are some of the reactions:
Hope Ajinkya Rahane gets his due credit at KKR.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) February 13, 2022
Baz McCullum: If you can't change the man, change the man.
KKR management: Let Shubman Gill go, brought in Ajinkya Rahane. #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/tXuF9E37nj
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) February 13, 2022
KKR middle order of Shreyas Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane and Sheldon Jackson so far. Russell to finish.
All the best. #IPLAuction
— Prasen Moudgal (@Prasen_m4299) February 13, 2022
So he is a Knight. @KKRiders gets @ajinkyarahane88 #IPLAuction
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) February 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/basedIITian/status/1492751450480386049?s=20&t=JZfbXTGnEMaAKToTXUuQ2Q
.@ajinkyarahane88 at base price is steal for #KKR. Surprise he didn’t invite bidding
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 13, 2022
Ajinkya Rahane to KKR, but why? 😭 pic.twitter.com/DKbfL4W25c
— sohom (@AwaaraHoon) February 13, 2022
KKR after buying Ajinkya Rahane pic.twitter.com/1CCWUwk57O
— Satyam Singh (@MyFreakyTweets) February 13, 2022
Meanwhile, KKR’s new recruit Ajinkya Rahane has reacted to his signing on Day 2 of the IPL 2022 mega auction in Bengaluru on Sunday (February 13).
The veteran cricketer from Mumbai is excited to join Kolkata and shared a short video message for the fans. In a clip shared by KKR on their social media handles, Ajinkya Rahane said:
“Hi everyone, I’m really happy and excited to join the KKR family. Thank you so much for showing faith in me. I know we must be doing really well in last couple of seasons and I’m sure we as a team we will do well in this season as well. Also, I am really excited to join the galaxy of knights. Cheers.”
Welcome aboard, @ajinkyarahane88! 💜#KKR #AmiKKR #GalaxyOfKnights #IPLAuction #TATAIPLAuction #AjinkyaRahane pic.twitter.com/Fhx00o4tMx
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) February 13, 2022
