IPL 2023: Fixed, eternal bottler are some of the search terms after Lucknow Super Giants failed to score 31 off 35 with 9 wickets in hand. Instead, they lost 4 wickets in the last over of Mohit Sharma to hand over a 7-run win to defending champions Gujarat Titans. LSG skipper KL Rahul led in the chase with 68 off 61 in a chase of 136. While many may consider it as a good effort albeit in a losing cause, it was anything but. Consuming half of the allotted overs, the skipper himself denied his side an opportunity at a win. A strike rate of 111.48 did not go down well as LSG bottled an easy chase even though it was a difficult surface. Fans lashed out at Rahul for his snail-pace knock as it cost LSG the match. Follow IPL 2023 LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
Lucknow Super Giants were cruising towards the target with KL Rahul leading the charge with his knock of 68 off 61 balls. However, he struggled towards the end, and his team failed to support him. They finished with 128 for 7, falling short of the target by seven runs.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Gujarat Titans managed to score 135 for six on a slow track. Hardik Pandya was the top-scorer with 66 runs off 50 balls, including four sixes. Wriddhiman Saha also contributed with a knock of 47 off 37 balls.
Chasing a target of 136, Lucknow Super Giants got off to a good start and were on the verge of a win when KL Rahul went to a zone and scored just 16 in the next 21 balls. Rahul scored 68 runs off 61 balls, but was not well supported by others.
Mohit Sharma played a vital role in defending 12 runs in the final over, as Lucknow Super Giants lost four wickets in four balls, including two run-outs. Lucknow Super Giants were eventually restricted to 128 for 7.
Netizens were furious after LSG’s slip-up and blamed skipper KL Rahul for the loss.
Check Out the Reactions:
When the lights are brightest,
Pressure is highest,
Crowds are the loudest,
The best will arrive,
The strongest will survive,
The greatest will thrive,
The KL RAHUL , Man of big matches, Take a bow🙇♂️🔥🔥 #LSGvGT pic.twitter.com/ucROSekozJ— KL Rahul’s TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) April 22, 2023
KL Rahul has played 50+ balls in an IPL innings 26 times.
12 of those have resulted in defeats for his team – 46% !! #LSGvGT #Rahul pic.twitter.com/AbLmdsd6Mi
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 22, 2023
Kl Rahul is the worst and most boring T20 batsman cricket ever produced pic.twitter.com/Bfcjlusgzi
— MONK. (@itsmonk_45) April 22, 2023
KL Rahul thinks he plays for LSG
Actually he is the 12th player of the opposing team 😂#LSGvsGT pic.twitter.com/nm1JSFNTBZ
— VECTOR⁴⁵🕉️ (@Vector_45R) April 22, 2023
Matches like these will make you realise the importance of KL Rahul being bowled out on 2(6) in first over.
— Pushkar (@musafir_hu_yar) April 22, 2023
I think @klrahul has successfully managed to snatch DEFEAT from jaws of VICTORY for @LucknowIPL #GTvsLSG
— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) April 22, 2023
KL Rahul said: I still can’t think where we went wrong. There is nothing to question about our attitude.
I mean bro, it’s you who is at fault here. pic.twitter.com/WKDZzgNvxh
— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) April 22, 2023
A dejected KL Rahul, the Lucknow Super Giants captain, was at a loss for words after his team’s defeat. He praised his team’s performance with the ball, limiting the defending champions to 135 for six, which he believed was ten runs under par. However, he admitted that they missed out on some boundary opportunities, and the pressure got to them in the last few overs.
“I don’t know how it happened, but it has happened. I can’t put a finger on where it went wrong, but we lost 2 points today, this is cricket. I thought we were brilliant with the ball, 135 was 10 runs under par, the bowling was exceptional, we started well with the bat, but these things happen, we’ll have to take it on the chin”, KL said after the game.
Talking about his batting, the LSG said, “We were well ahead in the game and I wasn’t really trying to bat deep, I still wanted to play my shots, take on the bowlers, but they bowled well in that 2-3 over period, by Noor and Jayant, we perhaps should have taken a few more chances with wickets in hand, they bowled decently, but I think we missed out on some boundary opportunities, the pressure got to us in the last 3-4 overs, we played well until then. They did bowl well though.”
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