LSG vs RCB: Virat Kohli Invested A Lot In KL Rahul – Shoaib Akhtar Lauds LSG Skipper's Performance In IPL 2022

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar said that Virat Kohli played a huge role in shaping KL Rahul as a great player during his captaincy tenure with the Indian team.

Rahul used to initially play in the middle-order, more often at No.4, in white-ball formats but with time he cemented his position in the opening slot in the shortest format. Rahul’s intent to bat gung-ho and play match-winning knocks helped him displace Shikhar Dhawan as the Indian opener in T20 cricket.

KL Rahul takes LSG to IPL 2022 playoffs

Rahul started with the leadership role in IPL for Punjab Kings in 2020 and then moved to IPL debutants Lucknow Super Giants this year.

Under Rahul’s captaincy, LSG qualified for the playoffs in their first season and will play Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator round.

Rahul has been leading from the front with 537 runs in 24 games, striking at 135.26, and became the first Indian player to score 500 IPL runs in five straight seasons.

Virat Kohli invested a lot in KL Rahul: Shoaib Akhtar

Akhtar believes the LSG captain will be a decisive factor in the upcoming Eliminator game of the IPL 2022 playoffs. The former Pakistan pacer also credited Kohli for the Karnataka player’s success.

“Virat Kohli invested a lot in KL Rahul. He pushed him up to open and made him a permanent member of the Indian team. Rahul is a nice and sensible guy,” Akhtar told Sportskeeda.

“He (Rahul) has been able to prove himself and has successfully shown that he is a serious contender for India and in the IPL as well. I think KL Rahul is going to be a major factor in the match,” he added.

LSG finished third on the table owing to an inferior NRR (net run rate) to Rajasthan Royals as both teams levelled on 18 points. RCB made the cut based on MI’s victory against Delhi Capitals in their final league stage fixture.

RCB and LSG will play the Eliminator match on Wednesday (May 25) at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The winner will meet RR in Qualifier 2 while the loser will end their journey in IPL 2022.

Also Read: LSG vs RCB: We’ll Have To See 1 More Innings In Pressure Game To Know If Virat Kohli Is Back – Sanjay Manjrekar