Decoding KL Rahul’s Batting Position for Lucknow Super Giants In IPL 2024
In the much-anticipated clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Rajasthan Royals (RR), the spotlight is on KL Rahul’s batting position, potential strategies, and team dynamics.Â
With the exception of one IPL encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last year, when he was forced out at No. 11 due to a quad injury sustained while fielding, KL Rahul has exclusively batted as an opener since the 2016 season. He positioned himself as the head of the order, even for India. Could Rahul slide down to reinforce the middle order, though, given that the Lucknow Super Giants have added Kyle Mayers and Quinton de Kock as foreign alternatives, in addition to opener Devdutt Padikkal to their roster?
The fact that India was chosen for the next T20 World Cup adds even more excitement. Rahul hasn’t participated in a Twenty20 International since the 2022 World Cup, and he wasn’t included in India’s most recent teams for series against Afghanistan and South Africa. Rahul’s best chance of making it might be to try out for a middle order role, as Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rohit Sharma are vying for starting slots.
The Super Giants, who have made the playoffs in each of their first two IPL seasons, have a potent batting lineup that includes Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, and de Kock, who bat wherever Rahul does.
The Rajasthan Royals, their opponents on Sunday, had a form reversal that saw them finish just outside the playoff slots after winning four of their first five games of the previous season and losing five of their next six. They’re hoping that this season’s two highly visible openers, Jaiswal and Jos Buttler, click.
Buttler scored 863 runs and was outstanding throughout the Royals’ 2022 march to the championship, but he struggled in 2023 (392 runs with five ducks). In 2022, Jaiswal displayed glimpses of his extraordinary talent. Then, in 2023, he burst into a brilliant 625 runs at a strike-rate of 163.61. In the five home Test matches against England, Jaiswal won Player of the Series honors. Meanwhile, Buttler returned to form for the Paarl Royals in the SA20, placing fourth in the run charts.
West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph, who was acquired as a substitute for Mark Wood, may receive his maiden IPL matchup because David Willey will be absent from the Super Giants’ opening games due to personal matters. Shamar is a good hit-the-deck option who can move quickly, as demonstrated by his heroics in the Australian Test match, despite his lack of T20 experience. The other possible possibility for LSG is Navneen-ul-Haq of Afghanistan, who may provide more options than Joseph.
The Royals are favored with Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, and Trent Boult, and their newest addition, Rovman Powell, may be the favorite for the fourth overseas spot. After winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali award with the highest score, Riyan Parag will also be the subject of attention.
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Rajasthan Royals Team Updates
Since Sanju Samson and Buttler are the only wicketkeepers in the starting XI, the Royals will probably select Dhruv Jurel as their impact batsman and one of Avesh Khan or Kuldeep Sen as their impact bowler.
LSG Team Updates
If LSG are batting second, Ayush Badoni will probably be their impact substitute; if they are batting first, Mohsin Khan or Shivam Mavi may come off the bench.
Pitch And Conditions
At the 2023 Indian Premier League, the average first-innings total at Jaipur was 172. The toss hasn’t been a major factor at this location, as the team batting first has won three times and the pursuing team has won twice. More often than not, the pitch will help spinners than fast bowlers.
