The Indian Premier League has played a different role in KL Rahul’s career as the Indian batsman has played many memorable innings while playing in the cash-rich league. Rahul, who used to play for Punjab Kings till IPL 2021, switched sides to the newly added Lucknow Super Giants and started leading the team. Rahul hit a ton in his debut season for LSG and has been among the team’s top scorers.
Former Australian cricketer and coach Justin Langer has been asked to coach the team for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League. In a video uploaded by LSG under his official name ‘X’, Langer praised Rahul and said that it is a ‘blessing’ to have KL Rahul as the captain of the team.
Justin Langer also recalled the days when he was the head coach of the Australian cricket team and stated that there were two players the team was afraid of, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. The team never relaxed until they got both players out. Langer also considered KL Rahul as a beautiful and elegant player.
Justin Langer praises KL Rahul
Speaking to Lucknow Super Giants, Justin Langer said: “I am going one step further. What a player, I knew when I was coaching Australia vs India, there are two players with whom I never relaxed until we took out Virat and until we took out KL Rahul because he is very dangerous and he is a beautiful and elegant player. He has good experience, he can play both sides of the field, he plays spin well and he bowls fast well. You know, I feel very grateful, I feel very blessed and we all should feel in Lucknow, blessed to have a captain like KL Rahul.”
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JL is already reading our minds 🥰 pic.twitter.com/CD580N5Xpv
– Lucknow Supergiants (@LucknowIPL) December 30, 2023
KL Rahul is currently part of the Indian cricket team for the test series against South Africa. Rahul scored a brilliant century during the first Test of the two-match series and scored 101 runs. KL Rahul hit 14 fours and four sixes throughout his innings and helped the team reach a score of 245 runs in the first innings.
However, Rahul could not help the team win the match as India lost the first Test by an innings and 32 runs.
Rahul was injured while playing on the boundary during an IPL 2023 match against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Rahul was ruled out for the entire edition and the remaining four months due to a thigh injury. Rahul underwent surgery in London and began the rehabilitation process at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru.
KL Rahul suffered a lot of pain during his recovery and returned to the team in the Super 4 phase match of Asia Cup 2023. However, the last 6 months have been a dream for KL Rahul as he hit a ton against Pakistan upon his return . Rahul also played some fabulous knocks during the ODI World Cup 2023 and he will aim to continue the performance for LSG in IPL 2024.