NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants' skipper KL Rahul faced a double setback as his aspirations for a spot in the T20 World Cup squad were dashed, compounded by a lackluster performance in the IPL 2024 encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Rahul's struggles with the bat were glaringly evident as his team suffered an embarrassing defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders, marking a distressing chapter in their IPL 2024 campaign.
Legendary Australian pacer Brett Lee echoed the sentiment, questioning Rahul's approach at the crease, particularly contrasting his performance with that of the opposition's openers.
"I think if you look at both opening batters from both sides, it's a complete contrast. KKR have got it right. They're out of the blocks quickly, they're scoring runs. And then you got KL Rahul on the other side, that's, you know, getting a run a ball and putting a lot of pressure on the back end," Lee remarked on Jio Cinema.
Rahul's inability to accelerate the scoring rate was evident as he managed only 25 off 21 balls, failing to provide the explosive start required in the daunting chase of 235 set by Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite a valiant effort from Marcus Stoinis, LSG succumbed to KKR's formidable bowling attack, eventually bowing out for 137 in 16.1 overs.
The defeat not only tarnished Lucknow Super Giants' record in IPL 2024 but also led to Kolkata Knight Riders reclaiming the top spot in the standings.
Adding to Rahul's woes was his exclusion from the Indian T20 World Cup squad, where he was overlooked in favor of Sanju Samson and Rishabh Pant for the wicketkeeper's spots. Pant and Samson's superior strike rates played a pivotal role in their selection over Rahul.
1/8:Sunil Narine shines as Kolkata Knight Riders down Lucknow Super Giants
<p>Sunil Narine shines as Kolkata Knight Riders down Lucknow Super Giants</p>AFP
2/8:Sunil Narine Shines
<p>Red-hot Sunil Narine's explosive 81 off 39 balls propelled Kolkata Knight Riders to a dominant victory over Lucknow Super Giants.</p>AFP
3/8:Formidable total
<p>Narine's onslaught, comprising six fours and seven sixes, drove Kolkata to a formidable total of 235-6, setting the stage for a commanding win.</p>AFP
4/8:Lucknow beaten in Lucknow
<p>KKR decimated Lucknow Super Giants, bowling them out for 137 in just 16.1 overs to secure their eighth win in 11 matches.</p>AFP
5/8:KKR on top
<p>With the top four teams advancing to the playoffs, Kolkata's triumph places them in prime contention for a playoff berth in the IPL</p>AFP
6/8:Phil Salt plays his part
<p>Narine's stellar form as an opener continued as he spearheads Kolkata's batting with a blazing 61-run partnership alongside Phil Salt.</p>AFP
7/8:Naveen-ul-Haq
<p>Lucknow's Naveen-ul-Haq posed a threat with three wickets, but Shreyas Iyer and Ramandeep Singh salvaged some pride for the home team.</p>AFP
