Rahane Suffers Hand Injury: The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) recorded a commanding 14-run victory over the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Tuesday night, but the win came at a cost. Team captain Ajinkya Rahane suffered a painful hand injury that forced him to leave the field mid-innings, casting some doubt over his availability for upcoming matches. Despite the setback, the Knight Riders held their nerve, with Sunil Narine stepping in as acting captain and delivering a stunning all-round performance that earned him yet another Player of the Match award.
Rahane, positioned at short cover during the Delhi Capitals’ innings, was struck on his right hand by a fierce drive from Faf du Plessis, who was facing Andre Russell at the time. Rahane was seen clutching his hand in visible discomfort before walking off the field. Medical staff attended to him, and his hand was later seen heavily strapped. He did not return to the field after the injury.
Rahane Suffers Hand Injury: Sunil Narine Steps Up as Captain and Match-Winner
With vice-captain Venkatesh Iyer already subbed out for Impact Player Vaibhav Arora earlier in the game, leadership duties were handed to veteran spinner Sunil Narine. The 36-year-old not only filled the captaincy void seamlessly but also delivered one of the most influential performances of the season. Narine bowled a crucial four-over spell, taking 3 wickets for just 29 runs. He also contributed 27 valuable runs with the bat, executed a direct-hit run-out of KL Rahul, and took a sharp catch at backward point that removed danger man Rilee Rossouw.
This performance earned Narine his 17th Player of the Match (POTM) award in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), a testament to his enduring impact in the tournament.
Before Rahane left the field, he showed promising signs of recovery and remained positive about the injury. Speaking after the game, Rahane said, “Not bad. I’ll be okay. I’ll be fine,” offering fans and the team some relief. Anukul Roy, who was making his first appearance this season for KKR, also shared a reassuring update. “It doesn’t seem too serious. He might need two or three days. The doctors will give a clearer picture, but for now, he’s okay. He got a few stitches, but it’s manageable,” Roy stated.
Despite losing their captain mid-game, KKR managed to put together a strong team effort to secure the win. Their batting innings started with explosive powerplay hitting, reaching 79/1 in the first six overs. Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz gave the team a flying start with aggressive stroke play. Though KKR experienced a mini-collapse during the final overs, crucial cameos from Rinku Singh (36 off 25) and Andre Russell (25 off 10) helped push the total to an imposing 204/9.
The Capitals made a spirited attempt to chase the target, with Faf du Plessis scoring 62, Axar Patel adding 43, and Vipraj Nigam chipping in with 38. However, Narine’s timely wickets dismantled their momentum. He removed du Plessis, Stubbs, and Axar, effectively breaking the backbone of Delhi’s batting lineup. Supporting bowlers Varun Chakravarthy and Vaibhav Arora kept things tight at the death, ensuring DC fell short at 190/8.
With this win, KKR continues their push toward the playoffs, now looking ahead to their next fixture with cautious optimism. The biggest question for the squad will be the fitness of their skipper, as they await a formal medical report. For now, KKR fans can take comfort in both the resilience of their team and the leadership strength shown in Rahane’s absence.
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