Former New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan delivers a stark warning to Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul, urging him to elevate his game to revive his international career. Mitchell McClenaghan stresses the importance of Rahul seizing the opportunity to shine, hinting at potential consequences if he fails.
Mitchell McClenaghan has donned the New Zealand jersey in 82 ODIs and 30 T20Is, although his appearances haven’t been consistent. But, whenever given the chance, he’s proven his worth, scalping 82 wickets in ODIs and 30 in T20Is. But it’s the Indian Premier League (IPL) where McClenaghan truly rose to prominence.
Playing for the Mumbai Indians, Mitchell McClenaghan became a vital cog in their championship victories in 2015, 2016, and 2017. His mastery of death bowling – consistently delivering yorkers and slower balls to squeeze the batsmen in the final overs – has become his signature skill. McClenaghan’s reputation as a T20 specialist extends beyond the IPL. He’s been a valuable asset for various T20 franchises worldwide, including those in the Big Bash League (Australia) and leagues in England and South Africa.
KL Rahul, the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), had a forgettable outing against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in their recent IPL 2024 encounter. Rahul’s knock was far from ideal, as he managed only a meagre 29 runs off 33 deliveries. This translates to a sluggish strike rate of around 87.88, well below his usual standards. This slow scoring put pressure on the rest of the LSG batting lineup and restricted their ability to build a strong total.
LSG vs SRH
Lucknow Super Giants faced a crushing defeat at the hands of SRH as their bowlers struggled against the onslaught from SRH openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who swiftly chased down 165 runs in under ten overs.
Criticism surrounded LSG’s batting lineup, particularly skipper KL Rahul, who failed to make an impact, scoring just 29 runs off 33 balls at a slow strike rate of 87.88. Former New Zealand player Mitchell McClenaghan took notice of Rahul’s performance, highlighting his disappointment with the lacklustre display.
What Mitchell McClenaghan Said
Mitchell McClenaghan shed light on KL Rahul’s current status regarding his international career with India, emphasizing the necessity for the wicketkeeper-batter to elevate his performance significantly. McClenaghan stressed that if Rahul aims to stage a comeback to the Indian side after being excluded from the upcoming T20 World Cup in June, he must raise his game and deliver impactful performances.
In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, Mitchell McClenaghan said,
“If this doesn’t wake KL up to the style of cricket he needs to play going forward to be successful and to continue playing for India, I don’t know what will,”
“He can do it. He has got to get past, very similar to what we’ve seen with Virat (Kohli), the feeling of ‘ You’re the only person that can score runs’. And he’s got to go, right, I need to score runs but if I am going to miss out, it’s okay,”
The ex-Kiwi cricketer also emphasised the significance of Rahul placing trust in his teammates to perform their roles effectively and play with their natural flair. Mitchell McClenaghan underscored the importance of delegation and restoring confidence within the team to achieve collective success.
“Trust the other guys to do the job. It looks like he’s carrying the whole team on his back, It’s going to take a really good coach and a good coaching structure or management to give him the confidence that it’s okay to fail and we’re not going to drop you.” McClenaghan concluded.