IPL 2022 | 'He loves batting in the nets and never comes out': KL Rahul praises his key batter

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) won by 12 runs over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH on Monday (March 4). The Sunrisers won the toss and opted to bowl. Put into bat, LSG lost three wickets within the powerplay. However, KL Rahul scored a steady 68, and Deepak Hooda smashed a quickfire 51 off 33 to guide the team post 169 runs in 20 overs.

While chasing, SRH got off to a good start. But, Avesh Khan and Jason Holder claimed seven wickets between them and restricted the opponent within 157 runs. For Hyderabad, Rahul Tripathi top-scored with 44.

Avesh Khan, who won the Player of the Match award after registering a stunning figure of 4/24, said, "The plan always is how I can pick up wickets in the power play and slog overs. I wanted to bowl the slower ball (Williamson dismissal) because we felt that the ball was gripping and holding on to the surface. 

"The plan is to always bowl dots and try to hit the yorker length. I always get a lot of support from the captain and support staff, and want bowl with the same rhythm."

Meanwhile, winning captain KL Rahul admitted that losing three quick wickets was not good. But he also praised the team for the way they bounced back. 

KL Rahul stated, "What's been pleasing is that we have always found a way to stay in the game and give ourselves a chance to win; we did that again today. Although not ideal to lose three wickets in the first four overs, it's not something that'll bring us down. 

"That's something we need to learn as a batting group how we can play risk-free cricket. 

"You don't chat so much in the middle. You don't want to plan too much as openers. If the wicket is good, both of us go. We have the extra batter with Jason coming in; the plan is to put the pressure on the opposition."

He continued, "I have been playing with him (Hooda) for the last 3-4 seasons, and we talk a lot. He loves batting in the nets and never comes out. He's keen to learn, he had to wait for chances, and he's using them. He's become somebody whom we can rely on in the middle order. He soaked in the pressure today and took on the bowling. Really pleased with the way he's batting. Hopefully, he can grow and get better."

On the other hand, Kane Williamson backed his side, despite losing the game. He believed they had done quite well in the game. However, he believes they will bounce back soon.

The SRH skipper cited, "If you look at the performance, it was certainly much improved from our first outing. The start with the ball was outstanding. We were in a strong position .. if we could just break that next partnership. Credit to Hooda and Rahul. 

"I suppose with the bat, there were glimpses. It was close but not close enough. Looked like a good surface. 170 on any day is a challenge .. have to play well. But at the same time, we knew if we could build partnerships, and get off to a reasonable start, we have enough firepower. 

 "The guys with the roles they have with the ball were outstanding. It's small margins. A few ones and a few twos and the chase takes quite a different shape," Williamson concluded.