Former cricketer Aakash Chopra was all praise for the Lucknow Super Giants’ opening duo of Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League. He feels both the batters are contenders to win the Orange Cap in the upcoming season. The Lucknow Super Giants will kick off their campaign on Saturday, April 1 against Delhi Capitals.
KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock were the top performers for the Lucknow Super Giants last season. Skipper Rahul was the second-leading run-scorer in the tournament with 616 runs at an average of 51.33, with two centuries to his name. Meanwhile, Quinton de Kock was just one place behind him scoring 508 runs, with a top score of an unbeaten 140 runs.
Ahead of the 2023 Indian Premier League season, Aakash Chopra analyzed the Lucknow Super Giants team. He expressed that their top order is their biggest strength in the tournament. Aakash Chopra said on his Youtube Channel,
“This team’s runaway strength is their top order because both are Orange Cap contenders, whether it is KL Rahul or Quinton de Kock. The form Quinton de Kock is in, he scores his own century in 10 to 12 overs.”
Critics will become slightly silent if KL Rahul has a good season: Aakash Chopra
KL Rahul has been going through a rough patch of late. He has faced a lot of backlash in the last few weeks due to his form. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra expressed that if the opener has a good season for the Lucknow Super Giants, his critics will become silent. He highlighted that KL Rahul has had a great run in the Indian Premeir League over the years.
“KL Rahul has a point to prove. In a way, he does not have a point to prove because he remains close to the Orange Cap every year. If scoring 600 runs was that easy, anyone would do it but he does that. But there are many naysayers, so the critics become slightly silent if he has a good season,” he said.
Aakash Chopra further advised the Lucknow Super Giants to play Deepak Hooda at number three in the batting order. He said,
“Then there is Kyle Mayers if they want to use him. He can bowl one or two overs with the new ball and can play the big shots while batting. He can step in if Quinton de Kock is unavailable. Then you have got Deepak Hooda. You can play him at No. 3 or No. 4, keep him at three as he has done well there.”
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