'Not A Bad…' - Ex-CSK Player Wants KL Rahul Not To Open In IPL 2024

image-lsg6s0a8KL Rahul will captain Lucknow in IPL 2024 (BCCI)

Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) all-rounder Irfan Pathan has offered a suggestion to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul, advising him to consider batting in the middle-order during the upcoming IPL 2024 season. 

Pathan backed his suggestion by highlighting Rahul's adaptability in batting, describing him as a versatile option within the lineup. 

According to Irfan, shifting Rahul down the order in the IPL would benefit both LSG and the wicket-keeper batter. 

"I see KL (Rahul) as a car with multiple gears in an era dominated by automatic cars. He has the ability to adapt his batting from first to fifth gear, and even has a sixth gear. With that in mind, batting down the order might not be a bad option for KL Rahul," said Irfan Pathan.

Pathan further suggested that Rahul's move down the order could pave the way for South Africa's Quinton de Kock and West Indies' hard-hitter Kyle Mayers to open the batting for LSG. This strategic shift could potentially enhance the team's overall balance, allowing for an all-Indian pace attack if both de Kock and Mayers secure spots in the playing XI.

“It could be good for the team and him as well. The team combination could include both Quinton de Kock and Kyle Mayers in such a scenario. If both of them get a place, they can go with an all-Indian pace attack,” Pathan added.

While Rahul typically opens the batting for LSG, he currently finds himself out of contention for the Indian T20I squad. Following India's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup 2022, the team management opted to move on from Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul. However, with Rohit and Kohli returning to the squad ahead of the 2024 edition of the tournament, Rahul's pathway to the national side may lie in showcasing his abilities as a middle-order batsman.

Rahul's performance in the middle-order will be closely scrutinized during the upcoming IPL 2024 season. He will look to cement his position as a reliable middle-order option and reinforce his case for a spot in the T20 World Cup squad.

LSG's acquisition of Devdutt Padikkal before the 2024 season presents a potential solution for the opening slot, should Rahul opt to shift down the order. Padikkal's inclusion could provide the team with a dynamic opening partnership while allowing Rahul to contribute effectively in the middle-order, thereby maximizing the team's batting resources.


LSG's full squad for IPL 2024

KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Amit Mishra, Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya, Yudhvir Singh, Mohsin Khan, Prerak Mankad, Yash Thakur, Shamar Joseph, Mayank Yadav, K. Gowtham, Shivam Mavi, Arshin Kulkarni, Ravi Bishnoi, M. Siddharth, Ashton Turner, David Willey, Mohd. Arshad Khan.