SRH vs LSG: KL Rahul gives a jaw dropping verdict on Strike Rate following Sunil Gavaskar-Virat Kohli spat
Published - 06 May 2024, 10:21 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:11 AM
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul made a U-turn on his remarks regarding strike rate in T20 cricket during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. KL Rahul admitted a notable shift in the shorter format, stating that even high scores are not safe at the moment.
KL Rahul has faced criticism regarding his strike rates in T20s. The LSG skipper was excluded from the squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024. Captain Rohit Sharma and chief selector Ajit Agarkar stated that they wanted middle-order batting options while selecting wicketkeepers.
Rahul has consistently maintained that the concept of strike rate in the shortest format is "overrated." He earlier stated that his primary focus is on contributing to his team's victories rather than prioritizing strike rate.
"Look, I think strike rate is very, very overrated. For me, it's only about how I can win games for my team," Rahul, who was then the skipper of Kings XI Punjab, said in 2020.
Three years later, the wicketkeeper-batter reiterated his stance ahead of the 2023 IPL season. Rahul emphasized that the strike rate depends on the match situation, stating that there's no need to maintain a strike rate of 200 while chasing a target of 140.
"Strike rate depends upon the demand, like if you chase 140 – you don’t need to go with 200 strike rate – it depends upon the current situation," Rahul said in 2023.
A Lot Of Talk About Strike-Rates - KL Rahul
During the toss in the match against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), KL Rahul acknowledged the evolving dynamics of the game and the increasing significance of strike rates. Rahul stated that a score of 220 is now considered a par score in the shorter format of the game.
"There's been a lot of talk about strike rates and the format is changing. Even 220 is now safe. It is evolving," said Rahul after LSG won the toss and opted to bowl first.
The Shreyas Iyer-led team put up a total of 235 runs in 20 overs. Sunil Narine scored 81 runs off 39 balls with the help of six fours and seven sixes. Phil Salt played a quickfire cameo of 32 runs off 14 balls, including 5 fours and a six. Ramandeep Singh scored 25 runs off six balls in the death overs.
KL Rahul started the innings well with a boundary off the first ball but couldn't maintain the momentum. He was dismissed by Harshit Rana after scoring 25 runs off 21 deliveries, which included three boundaries. The Super Giants were bowled out for 137 in 16.1 overs and lost the match by 98 runs.
The KL Rahul-led team is currently in fifth place in the points table, having secured six wins out of 11 matches in the IPL 2024. The team will face SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Wednesday, May 8th.
Read More: IPL 2024 Points Table
