KL Rahul hasn’t had the best of the starts as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants franchise as they lost their first game to the other debutant, Gujarat Titans, although Rahul stated that he was very pleased with the fight. Then, in their second match, against Chennai Super Kings, the LSG bowlers got a proper mauling by the hands of the CSK batsmen.
The Chennai Super Kings put up a mammoth total of 210 on the board, courtesy of a blazing half-century from Robin Uthappa, 35 from Moeen Ali, 49 from Shivam Dube and further contributions from other batters.
Amid this, a picture of KL Rahul and LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir, responsible for charting out the plans during the strategic time-outs, is going viral. This picture was taken after LSG bowlers had conceded 73 runs in the first six powerplay overs, only for the wicket of Ruturaj Gaikwad (who got run out).
Robin Uthappa, who was asked to open the batting as Devon Conway was dropped, absolutely teed from right from the first ball of the innings, flicking Avesh Khan for a boundary on the leg side, and followed it up with one of the off side. A rattled Avesh then bowled an extra effort bouncer which went above the keeper’s head, finishing his over with 14 runs.
He then took on LSG’s fastest bowler, Dushmantha Chameera, climbing into him for a six and a four on the leg side. Rahul removed Avesh from the attack, and although Gaikwad got run out, Robin Uthappa, on his end, continued his assault as LSG pacers continued to err on their lines and lengths. He tore into T20 Australian specialist Andrew Tye: 4,4,0,4,2,4 taking CSK to over 50 in just the fifth over.
KL Rahul then made a huge blunder: he gave the ball to left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya with Moeen Ali on the strike! Now, Moeen Ali is already known for bashing spin; Rahul fed Krunal to him, with the ball turning into him and the powerplay, Moeen made LSG pay, taking 16 off Krunal’s over.
A helpless KL Rahul desperately needed a breather and he took the strategic time-out straight at the end of the powerplay.
Gautam Gambhir strode in quickly to give his advice to the LSG skipper. In the viral picture of the duo, Gambhir is looking serious – and furious at the bowling and Rahul’s decision-making – while the LSG captain listens to the suggestions.
People soon on social media made hilarious memes, below are few:
Smokers in office after few hours … pic.twitter.com/OikHqu6Fgs
— 💲🅰〽️ (@Samcasm7) March 31, 2022
hehe pic.twitter.com/BG3mxL82iV
— A.A. 6.0 (@iamFirki) March 31, 2022
Hoth tere itne kaale kyun hai?#LSGvCSK pic.twitter.com/8bJ4WyLg4w
— D Jay (@djaywalebabu) March 31, 2022
— sold 🐬 (@SimplyInsulting) March 31, 2022
Hehe 😜 #Dhoni #LSGvsCSK #CSKvLSG #IPL2022 pic.twitter.com/uS4mfFImDW
— iDev (@iDev____) March 31, 2022
Meri kundli me ek khoon likha hai..maloom hai na pic.twitter.com/QK1eJ250gr
— KeetaAnu Malik (@VirusUncle) March 31, 2022
2011 world mimi pic.twitter.com/upcYVVL2d4
— bihari__queen🥂 (@RaniMukerjiNahi) March 31, 2022