While KL Rahul’s sidekick slammed an explosive stroke of over 240 against Chennai Super Kings, West Indies power-hitter Kyle Mayer was in a punishing mood as he was tasked with chasing down a massive total in the den of the Yellow Brigade (CSK) Batted quickly. Meares recorded one of the IPL 2023’s fastest half-centuries in Chepauk, although Rahul, the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), was a little tardy during the powerplay.
Sanjay Manjrekar claimed that KL Rahul turned like a hermit when Mayer was agitating the CSK bowlers (AP-Getty Images).
When the visitors attempted to sabotage Chennai’s homecoming at the historic Chepauk, Rahul’s LSG reached 73-0 after the first five overs. Meyers scored a fifty in 21 balls before being removed by Moeen Ali in the sixth over. Rahul had to shift gears and put LSG in control of the high-scoring match between Lucknow and Chennai after CSK pulled off an on-song mayor. Rahul’s debut, however, was a failure as the top batsman was dismissed for a cheap total in a game with heavy scoring.
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Chatting with ESPNcricinfo Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, noted that Rahul’s dismal performance with the willow versus CSK was due to the LSG captain being removed when Mayer caused difficulty for the Chennai bowlers. “KL Rahul withdrew within himself when Kyle Mayers batted with a strike rate of 240. Rahul knew he had to take the big blows after Mayers was dismissed and got out with a strike rate of only 111. Being explosive is incredibly challenging when you are suddenly playing in one gear, according to Manjrekar. Just because the opening partner is working hard doesn’t excuse you from playing each ball according to its merits. That said, you shouldn’t go more slowly.
Moeen struck out Indian opener Rahul in the eighth over of the LSG innings. The former vice-captain of India was only able to score 20 runs in 18 balls. Rahul was removed for a 12-ball 8 in the first match of the LSG against Delhi Capitals, which came before his disastrous performance against CSK in the IPL 2023. The match-changing dismissals of Krunal Pandya (9) and Marcus Stoinis (21) by the spinner Moeen, who had already removed the LSG openers inside of 16 overs, enabled CSK to earn their first victory of the new campaign.
Against Lucknow, Moin scored 26 runs and grabbed 4 wickets in 4 overs. This all-around standout for England was also named the game’s MVP. At the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday, Match No. 10 of the IPL 2023 will feature Rahul’s Lucknow Super Giants versus the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).