Former Australian cricketer Brett Lee in a post-match analysis highlighted the absence of intent from LSG skipper KL Rahul as they chased against KKR in an IPL 2024 encounter. Brett Lee’s critique underscores the strategic nuances of the game and the scrutiny faced by captains in high-stakes matches.
Brett Lee, a whirlwind Aussie fast bowler, ruled the cricketing world with his raw pace. Once clocking a delivery at 161.1 kmph, he made batsmen tremble throughout his career. A crucial cog in Australia’s golden era (2000s), Lee snagged over 700 wickets and lifted the coveted World Cup in 2003. Now retired, Lee thrives in cricket commentary and other business ventures.
KL Rahul’s strike rate in IPL 2024 has reportedly been below par, and his performance against KKR exemplified this. KKR put up a massive 235-run total in their first innings, in return the opening batsman and captain of LSG, KL Rahul could only score 25 off 21 balls which gave the team a poor and slow start.
This puts pressure on LSG’s chase, as KL Rahul himself admitted post-match. The team, including him, attempted risky shots to compensate, leading to wickets falling. While this doesn’t define his career, Rahul will need to adjust his approach in high chases, finding a balance between quick scoring and building a solid foundation for LSG’s batting success.
KL Rahul’s T20 Career
KL Rahul has carved a niche for himself as a dominant force in T20 cricket. His prowess transcends national boundaries, excelling both in international T20s and the high-octane IPL.
On the international stage, Rahul boasts a commendable average, consistently scoring runs in the high 30s or even exceeding 40. Rahul isn’t afraid to unleash the big shots. He has smashed a staggering 14 fifties and even 2 centuries in T20Is, proving he can single-handedly change the course of a match with his explosive power-hitting.
The IPL is another stage where Rahul shines. He has etched his name in IPL history by claiming the coveted Orange Cap in the 2020 season, awarded to the tournament’s leading run-scorer, by amassing a whopping 1283 runs that season. This wasn’t a one-off achievement. Across multiple IPL seasons, he has consistently piled on runs, often exceeding a staggering 600 in a single season.
Brett Lee On KL Rahul
Brett Lee, the former Australian pacer, has voiced worries regarding Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul’s strike rate in IPL 2024, suggesting it imposes excessive pressure on other batsmen. The cricketer from New South Wales pointed out the swift starts by Kolkata Knight Riders’ top-order batsmen, which have provided their team with the necessary momentum.
During an interview on JioCinema, Lee expressed his view that Rahul is feeling the heat due to his disappointing performances with the bat, stating,
“I think if you look at both opening batters from both sides, it’s a complete contrast. KKR have got it right. They’re out of the blocks quickly, they’re scoring runs. And then you got KL Rahul on the other side, that’s, you know, getting a run a ball and putting a lot of pressure on the back end,”
“You know, we saw four games and I picked KL Rahul here, the first four games he played. His strike rate was 129, then he went to 150 and now he’s come back and said, ‘well, yeah, you know the bowlers have done a great job. I think there’s a lot of pressure on him because he hasn’t scored the runs he should be,” Lee added.
Poor performance overall with bat, ball and in the field – KL Rahul
After the 98-run loss, KL Rahul remarked during the post-match presentation that the LSG bowlers struggled to bounce back from Sunil Narine and Phil Salt’s aggressive batting onslaught in the beginning stages of the game. He further explained,
“It was a lot of runs to be scored in the second innings. When you are chasing a big total, you are trying to go too hard and you end up losing wickets. Just a poor performance overall. We didn’t (hit our lengths on a consistent basis), just been a poor performance overall with bat, ball and in the field,”
“Sunil Narine and Phil Salt, in the powerplay, we’ve seen how they bat and they do put a lot of pressure on the opposition. Our young bowlers couldn’t handle that kind of pressure and he hit some really good shots,”
The Knight Riders gained position in the points table following the win against LSG.