'He’s got a solid all-round game,' Shastri, Gavaskar lionize KL Rahul

Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul is in a red-hot form in the Indian Premier League 2022. The batter didn’t start well in the league as he bagged a golden duck in the first match against Gujarat Titans. However, following a dismal start, Rahul was quick to redeem himself. 

After batting in eight IPL matches, he is the second-highest run-getter with 368 runs at an average of 61.38 and a strike rate of 147.79. 

Playing against Mumbai Indians on Sunday (April 24), the opening batter entertained the fans with another swashbuckling inning as he smacked an unbeaten 103. 

The Karnataka batter’s conduct on the match field has impressed the legends of the game as Ravi Shastri and Sunil Gavaskar heaped praises on the LSG skipper. 

The former Indian head coach seemed highly impressed with the opener as he hailed Rahul as one of the contenders for winning the Orange cap. Shastri believes that KL has a great temperament, and the pressure of leading a new franchise is bringing the best out of him. 

“He’s got a solid all-round game, the technique is good; he’s got all the shots, great temperament, and good presence of mind. With the responsibility of leading a new franchise is getting the best out of him. 

“You asked me at the start of the season, Orange Cap; I said KL Rahul because the openers have the best chance. So, it will be between him and (Jos) Buttler,” Shastri said as quoted by ANI.

Further in the report, Gavaskar also lauded the opener. Speaking about Rahul’s first knock against MI, the former Indian skipper added that it was delightful to see the batter pace his innings. Interestingly, during LSG’s first game against MI in IPL 2022, Rahul’s score was 103* only. 

“It is fabulous to see the way he’s paced his innings (against Mumbai Indians). How he increased his tempo, how he went from one gear to second gear to third gear, and towards the end (of the innings) he was into the fifth gear was fabulous,” Gavaskar opined.