Image: While Iyer faltered with the bat, Ajinkya Rahane continued his sublime form in SMAT 2024 / © Outlook India
The SMAT 2024 has brought an array of exhilarating matches, with top Indian cricketers representing their domestic teams. Among the highlights has been Mumbai’s star-studded lineup, featuring Shreyas Iyer and Ajinkya Rahane. However, their quarterfinal encounter against Vidarbha proved to be a mixed outing for the team.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer, who started the season strongly with a century and a fifty, couldn’t rise to the occasion in this pressure game. Chasing a daunting target of 222, Iyer managed just five runs. He fell to Vidarbha’s Dipesh Parwani, mistiming a short ball to long-on fielder Parth Rekhade. Mumbai’s troubles compounded when Suryakumar Yadav followed suit, scoring only 9 off 7 balls.
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Amid the chaos, Ajinkya Rahane stood firm, displaying his consistency and class. The veteran batter brought up his fourth fifty of the tournament, proving why Kolkata Knight Riders invested in him during the recent IPL auction. Rahane’s form has sparked speculation that he might replace Iyer as KKR’s captain.
Vidarbha’s innings were powered by opener Atharva Taide’s composed half-century, while Apoorv Wankhede and Shubham Dubey provided a late flourish, setting a formidable total. The Vidarbha bowlers then capitalized on the pressure, taking key wickets to keep Mumbai on the back foot.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will remain on Rahane’s form and Iyer’s ability to bounce back under pressure.