Ajinkya Rahane

Steve Smith (59 not out) played a captain’s knock as Rajasthan Royals (RR) kept their play-off hopes alive after defeating Mumbai Indians (MI) by 5 wickets in their Indian Premier League (IPL) tie at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, here on Saturday.

Placed seventh on the points table in the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League, Rajasthan Royals have removed Ajinkya Rahane as the captain and handed the armband to former skipper Steve Smith.

Rajasthan Royals will know anything short of a victory will virtually end their chances of making the play-offs, when they take on high-flying Mumbai Indians at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Saturday.

India’s Test deputy Ajinkya Rahane has asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to grant him permission to play county cricket for Hampshire in the months of May, June and mid-July.

For some Ajinkya Rahane may be a good batsman, but former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the Rajasthan Royals’ captain is facing a lump in his from, which he needs to accept to make it better.

Speaking at the end of the game, skipper Ajinkya Rahane refused to be too critical and said that it was just a matter of two big hits and things would have ended differently.

Skipper R Ashwin struck at crucial times while KL Rahul scored a matured half century to help Kings XI Punjab return to winning ways with a 12-run victory over Rajasthan Royals in an Indian Premier League clash here on Tuesday.

BCCI announced the 15-man squad for World Cup 2019. KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya, who missed a lot of matches in early 2019 due to ‘Koffee with Karan’ controversy, were selected in the squad. However, there were few players who have narrowly missed their chance of selection.

Once again rising to the occasion, Jos Buttler pummelled the Mumbai Indians bowling attack to guide Rajasthan Royals to a crucial four-wicket win against Mumbai Indians, here on Saturday.

A confident Mumbai Indians will look to consolidate their position in the Indian Premier League (IPL) points table when they host a lacklustre Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium here on Saturday.