Who wants neglect as a reward for love? A broken heart seeks revenge, and the intoxicating desire to succeed awakens. Ajinkya Rahane’s journey seems to follow a similar path. However, his revenge isn’t with a sword but with a bat. Even at the age of 36, Rahane stormed the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with a powerful T20 performance. In the semi-final, he played a devastating innings of 98 runs off 57 balls against Baroda, taking his team to the final.

Rahane was never known as a T20 or mercurial batter. That’s why he was often left out of the Indian national team’s consideration. He last played a T20 for India in 2016 and an ODI in 2018. However, Rahane remained a reliable name in India’s Test lineup. In 2023, he played three Tests for India, one of which was the ICC World Test Championship final. While most of the team’s batters struggled, Rahane played two crucial innings of 89 and 46 runs.

Despite never quite fitting the IPL’s four-sixer mould, Rahane surprised everyone in IPL 2023. He contributed immensely to Chennai Super Kings’ fifth title, showing that he could thrive in a T20 environment.

 In the semi-final of SMAT 2024 Rahane played a devastating innings of 98 runs off 57 balls against Baroda ( image Credit -ESPN)
In the semi-final of SMAT 2024, Rahane played a devastating innings of 98 runs off 57 balls against Baroda ( image Credit -ESPN)

Yet, his failure in IPL 2024 saw him dropped from the Indian team. The pain of this rejection may have fueled his desire to succeed. Like a broken lover, whose love wasn’t returned, Rahane has channelled this anger into stronger performances.

Rahane reinvented himself. To overcome his reputation as a ‘Test specialist,’ he transformed into an explosive T20 batter. His scintillating performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he’s currently the highest run-scorer with 366 runs in 8 matches at a strike rate of over 170, prove that he has evolved. His recent innings: 52, 68, 95, 84, and 98 – each with a strike rate hovering around 200 – speak volumes.

Kolkata Knight Riders  bought Rahane For IPL 2025 at his base price.
Kolkata Knight Riders bought Rahane For IPL 2025 at his base price.

In the IPL 2025 auction, no one seemed interested in him initially. However, Kolkata Knight Riders bought him at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore. Did he take this as disrespect? In the T20 format, where his name was rarely mentioned, Rahane proved that age is just a number. Determined to showcase his best against negligence, he appears to have ignored the fact that he’s nearing 37 years of age.

Rahane’s comeback serves as a life lesson: when life hands you neglect, it’s time to step out of your comfort zone and fight with unwavering determination. Only then can you turn hardship into success.

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A sports journalist driven by passion and dedication, I blend my love for writing and games seamlessly. Currently with Timesbull and having honed my craft at Sportskeeda, Cricreads, and Athlete Fortune,...