Lucknow Super Giants‘ captain, KL Rahul, has made IPL history by surpassing MS Dhoni of Chennai Super Kings. Rahul now holds the record for the most fifty-plus scores in the Indian Premier League among designated wicketkeepers. This achievement solidifies Rahul’s stature as a prolific batsman behind the stumps. His consistency and ability to convert starts into substantial scores have propelled him to the top of this prestigious record, marking a significant milestone in his IPL career.
KL Rahul Breaks MS Dhoni’s Record:
In the recent IPL fixture, KL Rahul’s exceptional half-century marked his 25th fifty-plus score in the tournament’s history, propelling him to the forefront as the player with the most fifty-plus scores among designated wicketkeeper-batters. This significant milestone places him ahead of the revered MS Dhoni, the former skipper of Chennai Super Kings, who previously held the record with 24 such scores.
Notably, Rahul’s teammate at Lucknow Super Giants, Quinton de Kock, occupies the third position on this prestigious list with 23 fifty-plus scores. This achievement underscores the formidable batting prowess exhibited by designated wicketkeepers in the IPL, highlighting their ability to contribute significantly with the bat and shape the course of matches. KL Rahul’s ascent to the top spot reflects his consistency and impact as a wicketkeeper-batter, solidifying his stature as one of the premier players in the league.
KL Rahul’s Performance Against CSK:
In the 34th match of the IPL 2024 season, Lucknow Super Giants’ captain, KL Rahul, emerged as the star of the show. Rahul’s remarkable innings of 82 runs from 53 deliveries propelled his team to victory against Chennai Super Kings, who had set a target of 176 runs. Rahul’s exceptional performance not only secured the win for Lucknow but also ended their two-match losing streak, highlighting his crucial role in steering the team to success.
Rahul’s impressive innings, adorned with nine boundaries and three sixes, was played at a brisk strike rate of 154.71. His aggressive approach ensured that Lucknow Super Giants maintained a consistent run rate throughout their chase. Additionally, serving as the team’s wicketkeeper in the match, Rahul showcased his versatility by taking two crucial catches. His dismissals of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube further bolstered Lucknow’s performance, underscoring Rahul’s significant impact on both the batting and fielding fronts.
After the match, LSG skipper KL Rahul said, “Feels good at the end of the day, When you win, looks like you make all the decisions right. Impossible to get all right. Depends on the kind of wicket we are playing on and the kind of batters there are. We spend time doing homework on tactics and strategy and we spoke about them not settling against one style of bowling. We worked really hard at training, good to see the team sticking to that.”
Rahul disclosed their strategy aimed to limit CSK’s score to 160-165. However, a late surge led by Dhoni pushed the visitors’ total beyond their target. Despite their efforts, Lucknow Super Giants found themselves facing a higher chase than initially planned, showcasing the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket.
He further said, “Halfway stage, I would have happy with 160. Felt the wicket was slow, a bit of grip but not too much. 160-165 would have been ideal. But MSD walks in and the bowlers feel intimidated. He walks in and bowlers were under pressure, the crowd was really loud, he has done it in the past.”
Rahul stated that Lucknow Super Giants had strategized to take on the CSK spinners, and their execution of the plan proved successful. This proactive approach enabled them to effectively counter the spin threat and gain an advantage over their opponents, contributing to their overall performance in the match.
He added, “Felt that if we bat well, we could chase it down. I have been trying to assess the situation and today it came off. With Chennai’s spinners, they tried to put brakes on us. We tried to get to a good start. Tried to take them down, luckily it came off. When your partnership goes on, you can take a few more chances. Glad that it happened.”
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