Sanjay Manjrekar has urged KL Rahul not to open for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2024. KL Rahul amassed 274 runs at a rather disappointing strike rate of 113.22 in the nine matches he played in IPL 2023.
He suffered a thigh injury while playing against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who ended their tournament midway and was out of action for a few months.
While previewing the upcoming IPL auction on Star Sports, Manjrekar opined that KL Rahul should cancel Lucknow Super Giants’ order. He reasoned, “I have a very drastic suggestion. Because they have someone like (Devdutt) Padikkal, open with Padikkal and Quinton de Kock because all the good performances of Padikkal have risen to the top.”
The former Indian cricketer added: “Have KL Rahul overturn the order. “It will change KL Rahul’s T20 batting career and also the fortunes of the franchise.”
The Lucknow-based franchise got Devdutt Padikkal from Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of the auction. In return for the trade, LSG released Avesh Khan to the Jaipur-based franchise, and the trade resulted in a net addition of ₹2.25 crore in their remaining purse. Devdutt Padikkal was one of the star performers for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2020 edition of the IPL.
KL Rahul is most lethal as a middle-order batsman
KL Rahul has secured his position in the middle-order after a good performance in the Asia Cup 2023 and ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. He cemented his place as the number five batsman and Manjrekar expects the same from him in the T20s. KL Rahul could bat at number four for Lucknow Super Giants, allowing players like Kyle Mayers or Quinton de Kock to open the innings and give order a good start.
Lucknow Super Giants finished third in the points table in the 2023 edition of the IPL. They were eliminated by the Mumbai Indians in the knockout round of the playoffs. KL Rahul did not have an auspicious IPL in 2023 and this time he will be looking for redemption.
KL Rahul can change the way he plays by batting in the middle order as he has consistently been seen struggling to accelerate at the top of the order. However, narrowing the order could help him accelerate quickly and may prove to be an even greater asset to the franchise.