Anyone in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) camp will support captain KL Rahul’s assessment of his batting form. Whether it be team leader Gautam Gambhir, head coach Andy Flower, or fielding coach Jonty Rhodes.
Captain of the Lucknow Supergiants, KL Rahul (PTI)
In his last three T20 Internationals, Rahul scored two half-centuries. LSG also finished last year’s IPL season, his debut, as the second-highest run-scorer in the competition with 616 runs at an average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 135.38, along with two hundreds and four fifty-sevens. This ought to partially explain why Rahul’s erratic form, which primarily affected Test matches, did not worry the LSG team management.
Rahul, though, wants to put an end to his rocky start as quickly as possible. In the opening home game against Delhi Capitals, he scored eight goals. It didn’t matter since Kyle Mayers, another opener, smashed 73 off 38 balls and paceman Mark Wood took 5/14 to guarantee a straightforward victory. Nevertheless, despite Mayer blasting a 22-ball 53 in Chennai on Monday night, the LSG fell by 12 runs chasing 218 thanks to Rahul’s 18-ball 20.
With Meyers, Rahul added 79 runs in 33 balls and struck two fours, showing that he was in good form. Ruturaj Gaikwad took a straightforward catch from him after his slog sweep over wide midwicket from Moeen Ali lacked sufficient juice.
Rahul continues to be capable of making significant T20 scores. During the IPL’s debut in 2013, he has amassed 3,917 runs at an average of 47.19 in 111 games. But the management, including Rahul, will have to choose the starting lineup as Lucknow gets ready for the upcoming game, which will take place against Sunrisers Hyderabad at home on Friday.
Quinton de Kock, who joined the team after finishing his South Africa obligations on Tuesday, will likely replace the opening batsman. It will be interesting to see what LSG does with Mayer in hot form. Would they let him keep opening and drop the two left-handers at the top of the order, or will they divide him by moving him to No. 3? remains.
After Chennai was defeated, Rahul turned his attention to other players.
“Mayer has shown some really strong form. He was smoking the ball while I was watching some of the West Indies matches being played. It’s encouraging to see him arrive with the same mindset. He drilled the ball a mile in Lucknow. And he repeated it today. It’s encouraging to see how he took advantage of the chance.
Only four foreign players are permitted in the starting 11, but it would be absurd to leave out Mayer. In contrast, he might make a difference against SRH in lieu of Mark Wood, who has taken eight wickets in two games. Also, the LSG cannot afford to overlook either all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, who is the sixth bowling option, or Nicholas Pooran, who is striking the ball brilliantly.