Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain KL Rahul has been dealt an expensive blow after an 18-run win over Mumbai Indians on April 16. Rahul has been fined for maintaining a slow over rate at Brabourne stadium, Mumbai. The LSG opener, who scored his third IPL hundred, has been fined Rs 12 lakh under IPL's Code of Conduct as it was the team's first offence of the season.
This happened even after Rahul was off the field for almost four overs. The 29-year-old had cramps in his thigh and was attended by the team physio in the dugout. In his absence, Krunal Pandya was leading the charge.
During this period, LSG bowlers managed to get three wickets which helped them win by a comfortable margin despite some big hits in slog overs.
Rahul returned to the field in the penultimate over and took some time to get the field placements right against a rampant Kieron Pollard and Jaydev Unadkat. The match ended when Delhi Capitals (DC) and Royal Challengers Bangalore had already taken the field at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
On April 16, once again, Rahul became one of the frontrunners in the race of orange cap. He scored an unbeaten 103 off 60 deliveries including nine fours and five sixes. His third IPL century helped LSG post 199/4 after Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field first. Rahul also became the first captain in IPL to score centuries for different franchises.
With fourth win from six games, LSG have jumped to second spot in the points table.
“Got a few boundaries away early, haven't got the amount of runs that I'd have wanted, haven't got the team to the kind of start that I wanted, wanted to cash in on this good pitch. Day games are a bit different, but dew does play a factor in the night games, it's unpredictable as well. We have defended really well, the bowlers have really come to the game, that's something we can take forward going ahead,” Rahul said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
