Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul admitted that the batting group hasn’t been able to perform collectively in the last couple of matches after they suffered a 24-run loss against Rajasthan Royals at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.
RR posted a par score of 178 runs after Sanju Samson won the toss and decided to bat first.
However, Rahul feels it was a gettable total after his team could only muster 154 runs in the run chase. Trent Boult struck twice in the third over to dismiss Quinton de Kock and Aayush Badoni. James Neesham took a good low catch to get rid of de Kock while Badoni was plumbed in front of the wickets by Boult.
Subsequently, KL Rahul was also dismissed cheaply by Prasidh Krishna to leave Lucknow Super Giants tottering at 29-3. Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda then added 65 runs for the fourth wicket before the former was dismissed after scoring 25 runs.
However, Lucknow Super Giants once again lost four wickets in quick succession to find themselves struggling at 120-7. Marcus Stoinis had an impossible task of getting his team over the line as the asking rate kept increasing.
Deepak Hooda played a good knock of 59 runs but apart from him none of the other batters could get a substantial score.
KL Rahul said in the post-match presentation, “I thought it was a gettable target. Good pitch, obviously something there with the new ball. We bowled well to restrict them to that total. We backed ourselves but we couldn’t execute. Once again the batting group hasn’t been able to perform collectively. We need to go back and work on it. Pune was a lot harder and a lot more in the pitch there than this one. When you lose wickets early it puts pressure on you. We have lost three-four games in the powerplay as a batting unit. Make sure you find a way to stay in there when you play quality bowlers and give a good start. I don’t think we are going to do anything different. Just about going out there and executing. Obviously, in pressure you want to do one thing but you end up doing something else. If we can hold our nerves and give ourselves a chance to play the new ball or a good spell. If you get through that spell you always have enough time to make up. We’ve got power in our batting line, so it is just about playing smart when the bowlers are bowling a good spell.”
Lucknow Super Giants will need to win their last match to qualify for the playoff stages. LSG have lost their last two matches and they would be disappointed with their batting performance.
The KL Rahul-led team will next face Kolkata Knight Riders at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Wednesday.
