KL Rahul was in incredible form in his Punjab King’s last league match against Chennai Super Kings. The captain of Punjab Kings smacked an unbeaten 98 runs off just 42 balls, which helped the Punjab Kings winning the game by 6 wickets.
Following this emphatic win, Punjab Kings have improved their net run rate, and now has a chance of making the top four. They, now need a big favour from Rajasthan Royals in the evening game to keep their qualification hope alive. Only two other batters reached the double-figure mark for Punjab Kings as Shardul Thakur picked three wickets for Chennai Super Kings and Deepak Chahar returned with one.
Earlier in the match, MS Dhoni-led CSK posted 134/6 on the scoreboard after being put in to bat first. Opening batsman Faf du Plessis top-scored for CSK with 76 off 55 balls while Arshdeep Singh (2/35) and Chris Jordan (2/20) shined with the ball for Punjab.
Notably, it was Chennai’s third consecutive loss in the ongoing season as they earlier faced defeats against Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals.
Further, in the post-match presentation, KL Rahul opened up on his knock and the role his team requires from him. He also hinted that he is aware of the outside noise regarding his strike rate and ‘slow knocks.’
“It was just what the team needs. I know there has been a lot of talk in the last 3-4 years about my strike rate and me playing slowly. But only my team and I know what’s my role and what my responsibility is. I tried to play the role the team requires of me every game. I feel I am letting the team down if I play the kind of cricket I want to play. It’s always team first for me. That’s how I have grown up and that’s how I will continue to play. Today the team needed this. I was happy that I could play this kind of a knock,” KL Rahul said in the post-match presentation.
“The only thing I keep telling myself is I am not a power-hitter. I still rely on timing and getting my body in a good position. So I keep telling myself to set up strong, watch the ball and trust my instincts to play the right shot. In the nets, I train my mind and train my instincts to make the right choice in the middle. There’s no better feeling than hitting the ball in the middle of the bat and watching the ball fly all over the park,” he added.
Meanwhile former India batsman Virender Sehwag lauded the Punjab Kings Captain for his blistering knock and questioned the management as to why one batsman has to play a different role when he has the power-hitting ability.
“Absolutely brilliant hitting from KL Rahul, top class. Was a delight to watch. When someone has this kind of ability and can take away the match from any opposition, why would one play a different role, or be assigned a role anything apart from playing in this style,” Virender Sehwag wrote on Twitter?
