Ajinkya Rahane vs Cooper Connolly — IPL 2026 Fantasy Cricket Stats Comparison

Ajinkya Rahane vs Cooper Connolly is one of the most searched cricket comparisons, combining international career stats with IPL fantasy data. Both players bring different strengths to your XI, and the right choice can be the difference between topping the leaderboard or missing out.

Ajinkya Rahane is a specialist batter for Kolkata Knight Riders, priced at 8.5 Cr this season. Over 14 matches in IPL 2026, he has scored a total of 619 fantasy points, averaging 44 pts per game with a best of 120 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 335 IPL runs at a strike rate of 135.1.

International career: Ajinkya Rahane has scored 2,906 ODI runs in 89 matches at an average of 35.01, with 3 centuries internationally. In TESTs, he has 5,067 runs across 84 matches (avg 38.7).

Cooper Connolly is a all-rounder for Punjab Kings, priced at 8.5 Cr. Across 13 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 918 fantasy points, averaging 71 pts per game with a best of 195 pts. He has scored 481 IPL runs at a strike rate of 162.5. He has won 1 MOTM award this season.

International career: Cooper Connolly has scored 28 T20I runs in 11 matches at an average of 4.67 internationally. He has also taken 3 T20I wickets at an average of 77.00 with an economy of 9.24.

Batting edge: Cooper Connolly leads with the bat this season, making them the better pick if the pitch is expected to be batting-friendly or if the match is being played on a flat track.

Fantasy Impact: From a pure fantasy perspective, Cooper Connolly is the stronger pick right now with an average of 71 pts per game and a best score of 195 pts. The value-for-money metric (points per credit) further reinforces this — always check this number before finalising your captain or vice-captain choice.

Captaincy Recommendation: Based on IPL 2026 season form, Cooper Connolly is the safer captaincy option. However, if the opposition's bowling or batting lineup suits the other player, consider rotating your captain pick. Always check the playing XI, pitch report, and toss result before locking in your captain.

Stats are updated after every IPL 2026 match. Compare more players using our Player Comparison Tool or check the Fantasy Leaderboard to see how top managers are building their teams.