Lucknow Super Giants clinched a convincing eight-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings in their IPL 2024 encounter at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Friday, with openers KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock leading the charge with impressive half-centuries. However, The LSG skipper was blown away by scened of yellow jersey all around for noone other than MS Dhoni.
Reflecting on the intense encounter, Rahul expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, particularly in handling the pressure created by the formidable Chennai outfit. He emphasized the importance of securing two crucial points in a game that felt like an away fixture due to the overwhelming support for MS Dhoni and his team.
“Really good game, like it was one of those games that feels almost like an away game even though it was a home game. That is all because of this one-man MS Dhoni who pulls that kind of crowd. It felt really good to put ourselves through that pressure and it feels good to get those two points.” said KL Rahul.
“We have a young bowling squad, it was good to see them handling that pressure. It is always a reminder that its okay even if we lose a couple of games, we can always have a chance.” Rahul remarked, highlighting the team’s resilience in bouncing back from setbacks.
Marcus Stoinis’ limited game time due to Impact player rule
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Marcus Stoinis dismissed the in-form Shivam Dube, tilting the momentum further in Lucknow’s favour. Stoinis acknowledged the significance of his contribution with the ball and expressed eagerness to play a more prominent role in the bowling department as the tournament progresses.
“You were talking of young bowlers, what about the young 34-and-half-year-old Marcus Stoinis that you brought in the crucial time to bowl? So yeah it was nice getting to bowl” said Stoinis.
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Stoinis humorously mentioned his desire to bowl more overs, prompting a light-hearted exchange with captain KL Rahul regarding his limited opportunities under the new rules.
“You did bowl one another match. I am sorry that with this new impact player rule and a 6th bowler coming in, I have not been able to slot you properly” said Rahul.
Despite the jest, Stoinis underscored his readiness to face formidable opponents in upcoming matches, emphasizing the team’s focus on maintaining their winning momentum.
“I was just joking!,” Stoinis clarified, referring to his banter with Rahul. “But yeah it was agreat gme to day and we will see them again in a couple of days. But yeah hats off to the way they finished off, especially MS Dhoni,” he concluded, acknowledging the Super Kings’ resilience despite the defeat.