Justin Langer has bought a lot of calmness to the group: KL Rahul

KL Rahul-led Lucknow Super Giants began their campaign in IPL 2024 with a loss against Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday (March 24).

Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat first. The right-handed batsman led his team from the very front, scoring an unbeaten half-century to help his side post a big total of 193 for 4 in the allotted 20 overs. Samson scored 82 off 52 balls with the help of three fours and six sixes. Riyan Parag also played a crucial knock of 43 runs for the Royals.

In reply, Lucknow Super Giants fell short by 20 runs as they finished on 173 for 6. Even though KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran scored the fifties, the Royals went on to register a comfortable win at the end. The Super Giants made a disastrous start and were reeling at 11 for 3 inside three overs before KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda added 49 runs.

It was followed by an 85-run stand between Rahul and Pooran but it did not make much of a difference for the visiting team in the end. Rahul was dismissed for 58 while Pooran remained unbeaten on 64.

KL Rahul on the loss:

Speaking at the post-match presentation ceremony, KL Rahul rued his team’s failure to bowl well consistently throughout the game. At the same time, he made sure to be not too critical of his teammates and insisted that the team would learn from the mistakes.

“Bowled well in patches. The target wasn’t a lot. We made a few mistakes. Good to see Mohsin back. Naveen has been crucial for us. We will learn from the mistakes. We need to find ways to win games of cricket,” said KL Rahul.

He also spoke about the team’s new head coach Justin Langer, saying: “Langer has bought a lot of calmness to the group. We enjoy having him around.”

Lucknow Super Giants will be in action next on March 30 when they take on Punjab Kings at home. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals’ next game is against Delhi Capitals on March 28.