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'Bhai yeh toh bilkul out of syllabus' - Fans can't keep calm as Ajinkya Rahane hits fastest half-century in IPL 2023 against MI

Ajinkya Rahane scored quickfire fifty vs Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League 2023. Here's how fans reacted.

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Ajinkya Rahane scored quickfire fifty vs MI

Ajinkya Rahane scored quickfire fifty vs MI (Source: Twitter)

Ajinkya Rahane, who was playing for the Chennai Super Kings for the first time, had a magnificent innings and scored a fast-bowling fifty against the Mumbai Indians on Saturday in an IPL 2023 match played at the Wankhede Stadium.

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Rahane entered the game at number three after Devon Conway was dismissed early and scored two runs on his opening pitch. Then, in Jason Behrendorff's second over, he increased the stakes by swivel-pulling a short delivery over deep fine leg for six before going off in the following over.

Ajinkya Rahane scored 7 fours and 3 sixes in his knock

The Mumbai-born batsman destroyed Arshad Khan for 23 runs in the fourth over, including a six and four straight fours. Rahane has now played in seven IPL franchises since 2008. With consecutive boundaries off Piyush Chawla's bowling in the sixth over, the right-handed batsman scored his fifty in just 19 balls, setting the season's record for the quickest fifty.

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Rahane's aggressive performance has given the Chennai Super Kings an advantage as they chased down Mumbai Indians for 158 runs. The Mumbai bowlers are baffled by the batsman's excellent stroke play and aggressive intent and cannot tame his attack. Ultimately, Chennai Super Kings won the heavyweights clash dubbed the El Clasico of the IPL by 7 wickets.

"When we were bowling, we got the idea of how the wicket was playing and how the ball was behaving. When you're chasing 150 or 160, it's important to bat with intent in the first six overs. If you get a good start, it becomes really easy. When I went in, it was all about playing my normal game, backing my strengths," Rahane said after the game.

"Every player is different," Rahane said. "I don't want to be someone else; I just want to be Ajinkya Rahane. The way I know how I play, my strengths, my timing. I just want to back myself. I've never tried to be someone else. It's all about trying to remind myself that if I can just be Ajinkya Rahane and play like Ajinkya Rahane, I think I'll be fine.

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"The preparation we had as a team before IPL started… we came to Chennai on March 2. Mahi bhai <Dhoni> was there, and the instructions from him were pretty simple: back your game, play to your strengths rather than trying to do something else. It's all about knowing your game and, when you get an opportunity, just back that game.

"Mahi bhai's instruction was completely clear, just play with intent, back yourself, don't change anything else. If your intent is good, I have the shots that I can play at any ground, so it was all about keeping it simple for me. I'm happy to bat anywhere. It's all about your mindset and what you want to do for your team," he further added.

Here's how fans reacted:

IPL 2023 Chennai Super Kings Mumbai Indians featured Ajinkya Rahane Indian Premier League Twitter Reactions