What are the odds! The two star wicketkeeper batters, who have led the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), have scored ducks on their captaincy debut.
KL Rahul’s LSG captaincy debut: 0 (1)
Back in 2022, when LSG played their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) match on March 28 against the Gujarat Titans, then captain KL Rahul was dismissed by Mohammed Shami for a golden duck.
There couldn’t have been a worse way to start your career as the captain of a new franchise. But Rahul did fine in the years to follow. After leading LSG for three years, he ended his stitch with them as their highest run-scorer, 1410 runs.
WICKET!
— chakdecricket (@chakdecricket1) March 28, 2022
What a start for Gujarat Titans and Mohammed Shami!
KL Rahul nicks the first ball to Matthew Wade for a duck
LSG : 0/1 (0.1)IPL pic.twitter.com/6Z66zTQKCk
Rishabh Pant’s LSG captaincy debut: 0 (6)
Three years later, another wicketkeeper batter, Rishabh Pant, made his LSG captaincy debut. And guess what, he scored a duck as well. The difference was that Pant played six deliveries.
Going against his old franchise, the Delhi Capitals (DC), at a familiar venue in Vishakhapatnam, Pant was outfoxed by his former DC and India teammate, Kuldeep Yadav, to start his career as LSG captain. His stay was rather painful to watch. He couldn’t put bat on ball, and when he did, a simple catch was taken by Faf du Plessis at long off.
If Rahul’s career is an indication, Pant will enjoy success in Lucknow. One mustn’t forget that although his journey ended badly with LSG, he did lead the new franchise to back-to-back playoff finishes in IPL 2022 and 2023.
Everyone knows Pant’s calibre. No one doubts him. This duck should be an aberration, and LSG would hope he goes on to surpass Rahul’s achievement as a batter, wicketkeeper and captain.
