Amidst speculation about KL Rahul’s future as captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), it appears that the skipper is likely to continue leading the team despite recent challenges. LSG, currently out of contention for the IPL playoffs, faced a significant defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad, sparking discussions about Rahul’s leadership role. However, with just two games remaining in the season, it is expected that Rahul will continue as the captain.
“There is a five-day gap before the next game against DC. As of now, no decision has been taken but it is understood that if Rahul plans to just concentrate on his batting for the remaining two games, no one would mind,” an IPL source revealed on conditions of anonymity.
The speculation arose after a video surfaced showing LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka in a heated conversation with Rahul following the team’s loss to SRH. The defeat came after SRH’s openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, dominated the LSG attack to chase down a target of 167 in less than 10 overs.
Rahul’s performance in the Powerplay has been a concern, with his strike-rate of 136.09 being the lowest among the top eight run-getters in the ongoing IPL season. Despite scoring 460 runs in 12 games, Rahul’s strike-rate has raised questions about his approach, especially while batting in the top three.
Among the top eight run-getters, all others have a strike rate above 140, with some like Travis Head scoring at a rate of 200-plus. Even Virat Kohli, who faced criticism for his strike-rate, scores at a rate of 148-plus.
LSG, though still mathematically in contention, face an uphill task to qualify for the playoffs. To reach 16 points, they must win their remaining two games against Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, while also improving their net run-rate significantly.
If Rahul decides to step down, vice-captain Nicholas Pooran is likely to lead the side in the remaining two games. Pooran has been one of the team’s most impactful batters this season.
The final decision regarding Rahul’s captaincy is yet to be announced, but it seems likely that he will lead LSG in their remaining fixtures, aiming to finish the season on a positive note.
