Lucknow Super Giants’ captain KL Rahul commended Marcus Stoinis for his outstanding unbeaten knock of 124 runs off 63 balls against Chennai Super Kings, stating that their team’s total of 210 for 4 surpassed expectations by at least 30 runs on the challenging Chepauk pitch. Stoinis’ remarkable performance overshadowed a splendid century by CSK’s skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, ultimately leading LSG to a six-wicket victory in their recent IPL encounter.
Despite Gaikwad’s valiant effort, he acknowledged the significant influence of dew in the latter stages of the match, emphasizing the challenging circumstances faced by his team. Rahul admitted that the traditional notion of a competitive total, exemplified by scores around 180, may no longer suffice in the era of ‘Impact Players,’ highlighting the evolving dynamics of T20 cricket.
Gaikwad said: “Tough pill to swallow but LSG played a good game at the end. We had the game in hand around the 13th over, but hats off to Stoinis. There was a huge part that the dew played. It took the spinners away from the game. We could have taken the game deeper. But it is a part of the game, you can’t control the uncontrollable.”
‘It is not just a go-go. It was ebb and flow. There were some bowlers we targeted’ – Marcus Stoinis
Reflecting on their previous victory against CSK in Lucknow, Rahul emphasized the contextual differences presented by the distinct playing conditions of the Chepauk stadium. He praised the strategic decision of promoting Stoinis to the crucial No. 3 position in the batting order, attributing it to the management’s bold and astute call.
Stoinis post-match said: “It is not just a go go. It was ebb and flow. There were some bowlers we targeted, some against whom we were cautious. Nicky Pooran played a good innings, Hooda also. It ebbed and flowed. From the inside, you are always structuring. You are liking some bowlers, not liking others much.”
When questioned about the potential promotion of Nicholas Pooran in the batting lineup, Rahul underscored the flexibility of their batting order, indicating that aside from designated openers like Pooran and Quinton de Kock, other positions remain adaptable based on match situations and player performance.
KL Rahul lauded the team’s efforts by saying: “Very special (win), especially when it is a game like that. It felt like we were way behind the game in the chase. Just to pull off a victory feels special. These were different conditions. They got off to a good start and put pressure on the bowlers. I didn’t think it was a 210 wicket. They batted really well. All credits to Stoinis. He was phenomenal to watch. It was not just power hitting, but was smart batting.”
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
