Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul got a lot of stick for his slow batting in the game against defending champions, Gujarat Titans. In the low-scoring game between both teams, the Titans batted first after winning the toss. Thanks to skipper Hardik Pandya (66) and Wriddhiman Saha (47), the team reached a fighting total of 135/6 in what were challenging conditions for batting.
In reply, the home team, LSG was going well after being 106/1 in 14.2 overs However, the wicket of Krunal Pandya changed the course of the game. The Super Giants needed to score 12 off the last over as the scoring rate went down after losing the wicket of Krunal and Nicholas Pooran. Meanwhile, when the team needed Rahul to fire, he got out to Mohit Sharma in the last over.
This led to the fall of a few more wickets and the team losing the game by seven runs.
KL Rahul must bat in the middle order: Harbhajan Singh
Meanwhile, former India off-spinner Singh has suggested Rahul bat in the middle order and include Quinton de Kock in the team. The South Africa international, De Kock has been warming the benches as Kyle Mayers did well in the former’s absence.
“I think KL Rahul should bat a little down the order and make Quinton de Kock open the batting with Kyle Mayers,” Harbhajan said in his YouTube channel. “I think the middle-order looks empty. Deepak Hooda, who was brilliant last year, is not in form this year.
“Runs are not coming from Krunal’s (Pandya) bat too. KL batting in the middle with give them some balance while Quinton can give a perfect start with Mayers at the top. If Quinton comes in then you have to bench an overseas fast bowler and in that place an Indian pacer may get chance.
“You also can’t keep Marcus Stoinis out because he gives you both the options of batting and bowling,” added Harbhajan.
This is how Twitter reacted
KL in middle order in T20s pic.twitter.com/iacA4qIXz1
— ?? (@dtsaae) April 23, 2023
Harbhajan knows the ball
— 1(10) (@vodapao45) April 23, 2023
?????? ??? ?? ??? ?? ?? ???? ????? ??? ?? ?? ????? ?? ????? ?
— Naveen (@_naveenish) April 23, 2023
Translation: ‘it’s ok to play maiden over in middle overs but really not ok in power plays’
— Ankit Shah (@TheAnkitShah) April 23, 2023
@harbhajan_singh paaji dil di gallan kad do, aur bol do kl Rahul team ko 12th man te bitha do
— vikkas (@viks15680) April 23, 2023
That's a good idea too. Can replace Qdk with Stoinis.
— Vibinraj (@vibin1021) April 23, 2023
Best is if @LucknowIPL drop B @klrahul and make @QuinnyDeKock69 the captain..
— Kaustubh P (@Causticcos) April 23, 2023
Mayers never Finishes the innings, BKL plays tuktuk, Pooran never Finishes the match ,Krunal and hooda are not trustable and Badoni is one of the Most useless finisher so Lsg needs a man who can play innings that Finishes the match for them they need Qdk rahul at 3 qdk open
— Binit Rajput (@rajput_binit) April 23, 2023
Team composition would look like:
1. Quinton De kock
2. Kyle Mayers
3. Deepak Hooda
4. KL Rahul
5. Krunal Pandya
6. Nicholas Pooran
7. Marcus Stoinis
8. Jaydev Unadkat
9. Ravi Bishnoi
10. Amit Mishra
11. Avesh KhanIP: Krishnappa Gowtham in place of Amit Mishra or Vice Versa.
— Advaitya Chandhoke (@AdvaityaC) April 23, 2023
No,they cannot play mayers and qdk together,other 3 spots are practically sealed,they have done their job, should not be excluded.
Kl rahul should bat in top order itself with changed approach, he should know by now that his approach of taking it to the last never works.
— Noone (@UdtaS) April 23, 2023
