KL Rahul decided not to captain Lucknow Super Giants against Punjab Kings in their IPL 2024 match due to his ongoing recovery from an injury sustained during the Test series against England.
He felt pain in his right quadriceps during the first Test in February and didn’t play in the remaining matches to give himself time to heal. In the absence of Rahul, Nicholas Pooran led Lucknow Super Giants and explained that Rahul needed a break to recover fully. However, Rahul still played as an impact player in the match.
Although Rahul opened the batting with Quinton de Kock, he got out after scoring 15 runs off 9 balls and didn’t field in the second innings, being replaced by another player. Lucknow Super Giants also handed a debut cap to Mayank Yadav and fielded only three overseas players in their lineup.
🚨 Toss Update 🚨@LucknowIPL win the toss and elect to bat against @PunjabKingsIPL.
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 30, 2024
Follow the Match ▶️https://t.co/HvctlP1JOJ #TATAIPL | #LSGvPBKS pic.twitter.com/D3FiVVMBgo
Despite his injury, Rahul showed his batting skills by scoring 58 runs in the previous match against Rajasthan Royals. Injuries have been a recurring issue for Rahul, including a hamstring injury during IPL 2023, which led to him missing the rest of the tournament. However, he returned after surgery to play a crucial role in India’s ODI World Cup journey in 2023.
KL Rahul’s team, Lucknow Super Giants, currently holds the fifth position in the IPL 2024 standings. They clinched a victory against Punjab Kings but suffered a loss against Rajasthan Royals. Despite the mixed results, Rahul’s contributions remain crucial for Lucknow Super Giants as they aim to climb higher in the league standings.
Looking ahead, maintaining momentum will be key, especially as they face Royal Challengers Bangalore in their next match on April 2. This encounter at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium will provide RCB with a home advantage. However, Lucknow Super Giants are prepared for a tough challenge, as RCB will be eager to bounce back from their recent defeat against KKR and secure a win.
Utpal is a journalist covering online and offline sports in India. He has passion for everything sports and is a regular at various sports events. Follow him to stay abreast of all things sports.
