KL Rahul’s captaincy debut for new franchise Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) could not have gotten off to a worse start. Rahul got out for a first-ball duck at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai against Gujarat Titans. It is LSG skipper’s first golden duck in IPL since 2016. Coincidentally, Rahul’s previous IPL duck came against Gujarat-based franchise as well.
In 2016, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), he got out for a golden duck against Gujarat Lions’ bowler Dhawal Kulkarni. It was a qualifier game which RCB ended up winning against now-defunct Gujarat Lions.
Rahul got out caught behind as he could only manage an outside edge in an attempt to defend Mohammed Shami's out-swinging delivery. Initially, the umpire did not give the decision in Titans' favour but Hardik Pandya opted for a review which showed a clear deflection.
Shami was exceptional with the new ball for Titans. After sending Rahul back to the pavilion, he got the wicket of Giants’ star overseas opener Quinton de Kock and Manish Pandey.
Despite LSG suffering an early batting collapse, Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni scored half-centuries to help them post 158/6.
“It was a phenomenal game. What a way to start the campaign. Starting off like that with the bat was not ideal but the way we recovered was phenomenal. It gives us so much confidence when the batters in the middle and lower order can do the job. We know with the Wankhede the ball can do a bit at the start and if we can get through that it will be ideal. We couldn't have started the campaign in any better way. There is so much to take away and learn for us,” Rahul said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
The 29-year-old batter has been among the most prolific run-scorers in IPL. Rahul has 3,273 runs to his name at an average of 47.43 including two centuries and 27 half-centuries. In the previous four seasons, he has scored more than 500 runs (including three 600-plus seasons). Last season, when Punjab Kings (PBKS) bowed out of the tournament, he was leading the race of orange cap.
