KL Rahul’s struggles and his overall approach in T20 cricket came under the scanner once again.
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rahul scored another half-century and was at the crease till the deciding over. But his 68 off 61 balls, at a below-par strike rate of 111.47, couldn’t help the team cross the line, as they lost by seven runs to Gujarat Titans at the Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the defending champions found the going tough on a sluggish track. Thanks to Wriddhiman Saha (47) at the top and captain Hardik Pandya (66 off 50 balls), the Titans could post 135/6 — a total that gave their bowlers at least something to defend.
The Super Giants, in reply, were cruising at 106/1 in the 15th over before Krunal Pandya was stumped off Afghan left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad. They still needed only 30 off the remaining 33 balls.
Noor (2/18) took his second to remove Nicholas Pooran, while Rahul again struggled to score quickly despite having gone past his fifty. The dot balls during that phase turned the heat on the Super Giants. From a commanding position, they found themselves needing 12 off the last six balls.
Mohit Sharma got his length right as Rahul, taking a two off the first ball, perished at the deep off the next. What followed was mayhem as the Titans picked up three wickets off the next three balls.
Mohit bowled it slow again and Marcus Stoinis holed out at long-on. Ayush Badoni and Deepak Hooda were then run out in the next two balls as all that the Super Giants could manage was 128/7. Mohit was adjudged Man of the Match.
