Ajinkya Rahane replicates Rishabh Pant [Source: JioHotstar]In search of their first win of the season, the Kolkata Knight Riders took on the Lucknow Super Giants at the Eden Gardens on Thursday evening after their last fixture against the Punjab Kings was washed out. Upon being put in to bat first by Rishabh Pant, the KKR skipper lost his opening partner, Finn Allen, early after a controversial catch at the boundary. However, the skipper took the onus and took the attacking route to set his team for a big first innings score. In pursuit of the swashbuckling start, Rahane comically recreated a Rishabh Pant-esque six, leaving everyone awestruck as his bat and the ball went in opposite directions. Watch- Rahane recreates a Pant-esque six vs LSG The incident occurred at the 8.1 over mark, as Avesh Khan steamed in with a short ball outside off. The set Ajinkya Rahane, who was batting at 32* (19), gave it a proper slog, swinging the bat hard and connected the ball for a six over the backward point boundary. Funnily, as Rishabh Pant seldom does, Rahane lost control of the bat, and it went flying towards the short leg region. Standing behind the wickets, Pant could only laugh at the situation as he looked to dismiss Rahane as soon as possible.Also Read: "Craze Of Rahane": Empty Eden Gardens During KKR vs LSG IPL Clash Triggers TrollingStar Sports @StarSportsIndia 𝘽𝙖𝙩 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙗𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙤...😅 Ajinkya Rahane just proved that you don’t even need to be holding the bat to clear the ropes 🙌 #TATAIPL 2026 | #KKRvLSG | LIVE NOW 👉 Apr 9, 2026, 8:22 PM Rahane shuts critics with a quick start vs LSGOver the past week, since Rahane’s poor 8 off 10 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, a lot of eyebrows were raised on Rahane’s approach in T20 cricket. Coming out of character, Rahane also lost his cool over the criticism and called out the critics, claiming to have had one of the best strike rates in IPL since 2022. Previously in the tournament, he had scored a 67 off 40 against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium; however, he lost the match at his home ground. Once again against LSG, after losing Finn Allen early and with Angkrish Raghuvanshi taking time to get going, Rahane got 41 off 24 with four fours and two sixes. At the time of his dismissal, KKR found themselves 99/2 in 10.2 overs. Notably, he is their second-highest scorer with 124 runs in 4 innings, striking at 155 and is also the tournament’s fifth-highest scorer after the knock against LSG. Also Read: Dasun Shanaka To Replace Shimron Hetmyer? RR's Strongest XI vs RCB for IPL 2026, Match 16KKR’s middle-order struggle continues Having consistently struggled to get going in the tournament, KKR’s middle order was once again exposed in front of the disciplined LSG bowling attack. Since Rahane’s wicket at 10.2, the Knight Riders have only managed 16 runs till the end of the 15th over. With five overs still to go, KKR are 115/4, with set-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi dismissed at 45 off 33, followed by vice-captain Rinku Singh’s wicket at 4 off 7. The overseas duo of the explosive Cameron Green and Rovman Powell are getting in with 7* (12) and 3* (6), respectively. Follow KKR vs LSG Live Updates For Each And Every Detail Of The High-Octane IPL 2026 Clash
