IPL 2022: KL Rahul is the new name of consistency – Aakash Chopra

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on KL Rahul after the LSG captain scored a match-winning knock of unbeaten 103 runs off just 63 balls against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.

This was Rahul’s second hundred of the season and both of his centuries have come against the five-time champions.

In fact, Rahul became the first batter in the IPL history to score three centuries against a particular opposition. The right-hander got off to a slow start as he scored 30 runs off the first 29 balls. However, he was soon able to bat in the topmost gear after getting settled.

LSG scored 52 runs in the last overs and a lot of credit goes to Rahul for helping his team post 168 runs on the board. The flamboyant batter scored 12 fours and four sixes in his fine knock as he batted at the top of his game.

The stylish batter has scored 368 runs in eight matches in the ongoing season and has scored his runs at a strike rate of 147.79. Thus, Rahul has been consistent for LSG in the ongoing season and has played a key role in his team’s success.

Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “He showed the entire world that KL Rahul is different. Rahul is the new name of consistency because the last time also they met Mumbai, it was at the Brabourne Stadium, he hit a century and now he has hit a hundred at Wankhede. In two matches against Mumbai, this tournament’s first reverse fixture, Rahul came and shone.”

In fact, LSG got off to a slow start as they scored 32-1 in the PowerPlay overs. Furthermore, Manish Pandey could only manage run-a-ball 22.

“Lucknow Super Giants’ biggest giant is Kamaal Lajawab Rahul. The start was extremely slow, Rahul on one end and Quinton de Kock on the other. The latter got dismissed off Bumrah’s bowling. After that, Manish Pandey comes and the wagon was not moving.”

LSG posted 168 runs out of which 103 runs were scored by KL Rahul. Manish Pandey was the second-highest run-getter of their innings with 22 runs. Thus, Rahul did the lion’s share of the scoring and also accelerated in the death overs.

“You had a run-a-ball powerplay, how will it work like this? But Rahul, how well he bats. The team made 168 and he made 103 out of that. What is this, this is unbelievable stuff. He respects Bumrah a lot, plays him cautiously, he sets the timing of acceleration extremely well.”

The KL Rahul-led team will next face Punjab Kings at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Friday.