Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 14 runs in the Eliminator at Eden Gardens in IPL 2022. Chasing 208 runs, KL Rahul and Co.managed to post 193 runs in their 20 overs.
The Super Giants lost Quinton De Kock in the first over of Mohammed Siraj. This dismissal of De Kock made KL Rahul go into a shell and he failed to use the field restrictions. He did hit a few boundaries but struggled to keep the momentum going.
In the middle overs, the Lucknow captain couldn’t cash on against the spinners. He tried to play them safely without taking much risk despite the required run rate mounting. KL Rahul’s sluggish approach made Deepak Hooda take the risks and eventually he got out.
Just when LSG needed their captain to finish the game, KL Rahul got out, leaving no opportunity for the team to return to the game. He played a scratchy knock of 79 runs in 58 balls at a strike rate of 138.
Fans criticised the approach and intent of KL Rahul in this mammoth run chase. They blamed KL Rahul for LSG’s defeat against RCB in Eliminator.
Here are the Twitter reactions of fans :
Rajat Patidar: 112 off 54 balls.
KL Rahul : 79 off 58 balls.These two contrasting innings decided the fate of the game. Didn’t quite understand what KL was doing in the middle overs knocking 1s & 2s. You’ve all the shots but still don’t want to play it? #LSG #IPL2022
— ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ | Dodda Ganesh (@doddaganesha) May 25, 2022
This approach from KL RAHUL will always cost us in big tournaments & big matches. He can’t play run a ball type innings till 40 balls. #RCBvLSG #RCBvsLSG
— Sushant Mehta (@SushantNMehta) May 25, 2022
KL Rahul will be the reason of this loss of LSG.
— ANSHUMAN🚩 (@AvengerReturns) May 25, 2022
I think KL Rahul didn't factor Harshal Patel very well in the death overs scenario. With 3 overs of Harshal in last 10 overs, take deep strategy was never gonna work. He had a 175 Strike Rate against Harshal before the match, so that might have played a part in taking him easy.
— Ricky talks Cricket (@CricRicky) May 25, 2022
It might look harsh but KL Rahul played 4 more balls than Rajat Patidar and scored 33 runs less than him. Can't really approach a chase of 10+ rpo like this. You can never make up for the lost deliveries. The same thing happened with Jos Buttler yesterday in 1st inn.#LSGvRCB
— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) May 25, 2022
Basically lost them the game but scorecard will project as if he is the only guy that tried something. The myth that is KL Rahul continues to fool an entire audience for how long?
— z N e D (@MadMart05) May 25, 2022
India need this mindset type of players in T20 not like Statpadder KL Rahul pic.twitter.com/qLtcxIlzXd
— HeyYa (@I_say_factos) May 25, 2022
Thread : Sanjay manjrekar absolutely hitting it out of the park with his KL rahul analysis….. Balls of steel 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YmVdwqsDhP
— Vicky (@Tendulkrar) May 25, 2022
What an amazing fifty in 43 balls while chasing 208😱
KL Rahul being one of the most consistent performer for "40s ball fifty department"🔥🔥 #LSGvRCB pic.twitter.com/ZjZhsSeyBg— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) May 25, 2022
“We will take back a lot of positives” – KL Rahul on IPL 2022 campaign of LSG
KL Rahul in the post-match presentation blamed the poor fielding of LSG as the main reason for the loss. He believes that Patidar’s knock created a massive difference in this game. Rahul also applauded Mohsin Khan for his brilliant performance in this IPL season. The LSG captain was hopeful of a strong comeback in the next season.
“We let ourselves down in the field. Dropping easy catches never helps. Difference was obviously Patidar playing such a knock. When someone in the top three scores a hundred, more often the team wins. They fielded really well and we were poor. We’ll take back a lot of positives. It’s a new franchise. We’ve made a lot of mistakes, every team does that. Have to try and come back stronger.”
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