KL Rahul has defended his slow batting approach in the run chase. Playing at Bengaluru, Rahul scored 18 off 20 balls.
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Lucknow Super Giants registered a thrilling 1-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, on 10 April, Monday while chasing a decent total of 213. However, captain KL Rahul has defended his slow batting approach in the run chase. Playing at Bengaluru, Rahul scored 18 off 20 balls before getting out in the 12th over of the game, a performance that left his team struggling in the middle. However, Rahul defended his knock by arguing that he was forced to bat cautiously due to wickets falling in regular intervals and said that he was just playing according to the situation as well.
“I want to score more runs and I think I score more runs, the strike rate goes up. We have played a couple of games in tough wickets in Lucknow. Today we lost 3 wickets so I look at the situation and I felt like I did the right thing and if I could have carried on and stayed there till the end and stayed with Nicky, could’ve won the game a lot easier. Once I get some good knocks under my belt I’ll start feeling good and that will go up,” KL Rahul said in the post-match presentation.
However, Lucknow won the game because of three stunning knocks from Marcus Stoinis (60 off 35), Nicholas Pooran (62 off 19) and Ayush Badoni (30 off 24), who scored the bulk in separate situations of the game and took the team home against RCB in the IPL 2023. And, Rahul applauded his team and said that these kinds of finishes are only possible in the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as well.
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“Unbelievable. This is the Chinnaswamy, only venue where so many last finishes are possible. From the possible we were in to end up winning in superb,” Rahul said. “When you are chasing 210 + you need to go hard. Sometimes you lose wickets but the ball was swinging a bit early for them and got wickets. That puts some pressure on you but the way Stoin and Pooran played was brilliant. The reason we have got 2 points here is because of the way they batted.”
However, saying the lower middle order as the most important batting position in the shortest format, KL Rahul said that, LSG knowingly invested in Stoinis, Pooran and Badoni for their skill and firepower.
“In T20s number 5, 6 and 7 are the most important batting positions. That’s where the most games are won, at least the crunch games. Yes, the top order will do the bulk of the scoring in top tournaments like these but it’s those boys who really win you games and win you big games and that’s why we invested in power in Stoin and Pooran and Ayush is coming of his own,” KL Rahul again said.
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However, KL Rahul opined on young Badoni, who made headlines in the Indian Premier League at just 23 years of age.
“He is a youngster and is learning the art of finishing games. He has done that a couple of times already this season. He’s done that a couple of times last season as well. He’s growing into that role and really excited about him becoming better in that position and that’d mean our team gets that power,” KL Rahul concluded.
