IPL 2023: KL Rahul: Marcus Stoinis – Despite Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) registering two wins without regular skipper KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis admitted the team is missing the opening batter at the top. With Rahul missing three games, LSG have tried two different combinations at the top, but none of them clicked as well like as Rahul Mayers did. Follow IPL 2023 Live Updates with InsideSport.IN.
The LSG skipper played the perfect sheet anchor role and laid the foundation for other batters to go bang from word go. With LSG set to play the last league match against KKR, it remains to be seen who opens along with Quinton de Kock.
IPL 2023: ‘Great to see everyone stepping up’ Stoinis on Rahul’s absence
Without Rahul, stand-in-skipper Krunal had to play the sheet anchor role. The southpaw scored an unbeaten 49 and allowed Stoinis to play his natural game. The Australia all-rounder admitted it is good to see everyone stepping up in Rahul’s absence.
IPL 2023: Will LSG persist with out-of-form Hooda at the top?
In the last game against MI, LSG went with de Kock and Hooda at the top. Mayers was replaced by Naveen ul Haq. The opening combination between Hooda and de Kock was broken in the power play itself, with the former yet again getting out in a single-digit score.
Hooda’s average this season is awful looking, at 6.92 The batter has failed to cross 30 and is clearly lacking confidence to score runs.
LSG to face KKR in their last league match
LSG can try Ayush Badoni at the top, the youngster has a fair bit of experience opening at the top in domestic cricket for Delhi. Badoni also opened once in IPL 2023 against RCB. Mayers and de Kock combination is also not firing, but the dup have opened only twice.
Against KKR, LSG needs to win if they want to secure a top-two finish. LSG are currently on 15 points, and a loss against Nitish Rana-led side could make them slip to the fourth spot provided RCB wins both their games and MI wins their last match.
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