“Clearly Doing Something Wrong As Captain”: KL Rahul Sees Funny Side of Getting Hit By Teammate’s Throw at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

Right before hosting its first Indian Premier League 2023 match, the pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium was successful in throwing dust in Lucknow Super Giants‘ eyes on the eve of the match. Visiting captain KL Rahul (39), severely criticized for batting at a strike rate of 121.87 at the time of his dismissal against Rajasthan Royals, admitted to have misread the pitch thinking it to be a 180-run surface.

Opening the batting with Kyle Mayers (51), Rahul shared a 64-ball 82-run partnership for the first wicket before realizing that even 160 runs could be enough for them to defend in the second innings. Rahul and Mayers’ combined assessment of the pitch proved to be true as LSG registered a 10-run victory even after scoring 154/7 in the first innings.

“At the 10-over mark, the message me and Kyle [Mayers] sent out was 160 would be a good total on this track. They have some good bowlers who exploited the conditions. We fell 10 short but made up with the ball. And there was no dew, so made it fair for both teams,” Rahul told host broadcaster Star Sports Network during the post-match presentation ceremony.

KL Rahul Sees Funny Side of Getting Hit By Teammate’s Throw at Sawai Mansingh Stadium

Rahul, who called his shots perfectly as a captain, took a dig at his teammate for hitting him right after the halfway mark. It all had happened when a fielder stationed at long-off threw the ball towards Rahul only for him to be looking at the completely opposite side. Rahul, who got hit on his right elbow, received immediate medical attention before continuing on the field.

“I got hit by one of the throws from my teammates. So clearly doing something wrong as captain [chuckles],” Rahul remarked on being asked about using an ice cap.

KL Rahul reveals the game-changing moment of the match

Much like Lucknow, even Rajasthan’s opening batters put together an impressive 69-ball 87-run partnership. Looking set to chase down a target at their home ground, RR erred on the back of losing their first four wickets withing a 22-ball span in the middle-overs.

While Player of the Match Marcus Stoinis (21 & 2/28) sent both the hosts’ openers in Yashasvi Jaiswal (44) and Jos Buttler (40) back to the pavilion, Royals captain Sanju Samson (2) getting run-out resulted in them losing three wickets in as many overs.

“I think that run-out from the Impact Player, and two wickets falling back-to-back gives the opposition a chance,” Rahul added. Readers must note that spinner Amit Mishra (0/15) was Super Giants’ Impact Player tonight. Although the 40-year old didn’t pick a wicket in his two overs, an accurate throw from him was effective enough to find Samson short of his crease.