Ajinkya Rahane Joins Elite IPL List Amidst KKR's Struggles

Kolkata Knight Riders may be having a tough time in IPL 2025, but captain Ajinkya Rahane is quietly putting together a season to remember. The veteran batter recently crossed a major milestone, becoming just the sixth player – and fifth Indian – in IPL history to hit 500 fours.

Rahane reached the landmark during his gritty half-century against Gujarat Titans, where he struck five boundaries on his way to a 36-ball 50. He now joins an elite list that includes Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, David Warner, Rohit Sharma, and Suresh Raina. With just five more boundaries needed, Rahane could soon leapfrog Raina (506) and break into the top five. 

Here’s how the top names stack up: 

• Shikhar Dhawan: 768 fours 
• Virat Kohli: 732 
• David Warner: 663 
• Rohit Sharma: 609 
• Suresh Raina: 506 
• Ajinkya Rahane: 502 

Despite the personal success, Rahane’s KKR side has struggled to find its rhythm. With five losses in eight games, the defending champions are dangerously close to crashing out before the playoffs. The exit of Shreyas Iyer ahead of the season shook the team’s structure, and while Rahane has taken the leadership role in stride, his teammates have struggled to step up. 

Rahane has been the lone bright spot with the bat, scoring 271 runs from eight innings—making him KKR’s top scorer this season. He’s led from the front, but the lack of support has cost the team dearly. Against Gujarat Titans, Rahane once again anchored the innings with his fifty, but the rest of the lineup faltered in the chase of 199, resulting in a 36-run defeat. 

KKR now find themselves in a tricky position. With only three wins at the halfway stage, they can’t afford many more slip-ups. If the rest of the squad can rally around their in-form captain, there’s still time to turn things around. But the margin for error is getting smaller by the day. 

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