Image Credit- BCCI
With the exception
of one IPL encounter against Royal Challengers Bengaluru last year, when he was
forced out at No. 11 due to a quad injury sustained while fielding, KL Rahul
has exclusively batted as an opener since the 2016 season. He positioned himself
as the head of the order, even for India. Could Rahul slide down to reinforce
the middle order, though, given that the Lucknow Super Giants have added Kyle
Mayers and Quinton de Kock as foreign alternatives, in addition to opener
Devdutt Padikkal to their roster?
The fact that India
was chosen for the next T20 World Cup adds even more excitement. Rahul hasn’t
participated in a Twenty20 International since the 2022 World Cup, and he
wasn’t included in India’s most recent teams for series against Afghanistan and
South Africa. Rahul’s best chance of making it might be to try out for a middle
order role, as Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Rohit Sharma are vying for
starting slots.
The Super Giants, who have made the playoffs in each of their first two IPL
seasons, have a potent batting lineup that includes Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas
Pooran, and de Kock, who bat wherever Rahul does.
The Rajasthan
Royals, their opponents on Sunday, had a form reversal that saw them finish
just outside the playoff slots after winning four of their first five games of
the previous season and losing five of their next six. They’re hoping that this
season’s two highly visible openers, Jaiswal and Jos Buttler, click. Buttler
scored 863 runs and was outstanding throughout the Royals’ 2022 march to the
championship, but he struggled in 2023 (392 runs with five ducks). In 2022,
Jaiswal displayed glimpses of his extraordinary talent. Then, in 2023, he burst
into a brilliant 625 runs at a strike-rate of 163.61. While Buttler found some
form for Paarl, Jaiswal enters this IPL after winning Player of the Series in
the five home Tests against England.
West Indies fast
bowler Shamar Joseph, who was acquired as a substitute for Mark Wood, may
receive his maiden IPL matchup because David Willey will be absent from the
Super Giants’ opening games due to personal matters. Shamar is a good
hit-the-deck option who can move quickly, as demonstrated by his heroics in the
Australian Test match, despite his lack of T20 experience. The other possible
possibility for LSG is Navneen-ul-Haq of Afghanistan, who may provide more
options than Joseph.
The Royals are favoured with Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, and Trent Boult, and
their newest addition, Rovman Powell, may be the favourite for the fourth
overseas spot.