Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul talked about the positives despite losing their opening IPL match to Gujarat Titans on Monday.

“It was a phenomenal game. What a way to start the campaign. Starting off like that with the bat was not ideal but the way we recovered was phenomenal,” Rahul said.

“It gives us so much confidence when the batters in the middle and lower-order can do the job. We know at the Wankhede, the ball can do a bit at the start and if we can get through that, it will be ideal,” he said. “We couldn’t have started the campaign in any better way. There is so much to take away and learn for us.”

Rahul praised Mohammed Shami’s efforts and “blamed” the fast bowler for their top-order debacle. “Sometimes you got to give it to the quality of the bowler. We all know how good Shami is and if anyone could exploit the pitch, that was Shami. I knew he would be dangerous. It is good to see him bowl that well.”

Titans captain Hardik Pandya seemed satisfied with the result.

“This was the right game for us to finish on either side and learn, but I’m happy that we have learnt a lot by winning. Shami is known for his seam positions and he got us to a great start. We would have any day taken 160 on this wicket,” Pandya said.

The Gujarat captain added that he would continue batting at No. 4. “Mostly I’ll bat at No. 4, because I want to take pressure with my experience so that the others can play freely. We want to win as a team and nobody can take the contribution away from us,” he said.

Showering praise on Abhinav Manohar (15 not out off 7 balls) and Rahul Tewatia (40 not out off 24 balls), Pandya said: “Manohar is some player to look at with the talent he has. He is someone who you are going to hear about in the future. Tewatia was sensational as well.”