IPL 2020 : KL Rahul continues to shine as KXIP gear up for a Herculean task to qualify for playoffs
In his first IPL season as a skipper, KL Rahul has been off to a rough start. But he has been in exceptional form leading from the front. Rahul holds the orange cap with an exceptional consistency as he has amassed 525 runs in just 9 games. His partnership with Mayank Agarwal at the top of KXIP batting lineup has been monumental to whatever KXIP side has achieved this season.
Picking off where he left off pre-pandemic, Rahul took off with a fabulous ton against RCB in his second game and he hasn’t looked back ever since. With runs against his name in every game, Rahul hasn’t let the pressure of captaincy get to his batting.
First Indian batsmen with 500 runs in three consecutive seasons
With his 77 run knock against Mumbai Indians, Rahul joined the list of elite batsmen who have amassed 500+ runs for three straight seasons, The list, which boasts the likes of David Warner and Chris Gayle, had its first Indian entrant as Rahul toiled away to breach the MI fortress. Warner has scored 500-plus runs in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. And Gayle is the only other batsman who pulled off the feat in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013
The Karnataka opener scored 659 runs for in 2018 in his debut season for Kings XI, playing 14 matches and scoring at an average of 54.91 with six half-centuries. He followed it up with 593 runs in 14 innings in 2019 with one century and six fifties. This season he has 525 runs under his belt in just nine innings at an average of 75 with a ton and five half-centuries.
Timid strike rate a source of worry
“Look, I think strike rate is very, very overrated. For me, it’s only about how I can win games for my team.“
This quote by Rahul comes to our mind first when one talks about the strike rate. But how far does this statement holds in today’s era of fast forward cricket where nothing is comparable to an explosive sixes.
No doubt Rahul has been winning matches, at least three of them, with his bat for KXIP. But he also might be the difference between victory and Punjab in the close encounters they have lost. Although Rahul tops the orange cap list, his strike rate is not very high and that might be hurting KXIP.
Also read : IPL 2020: Our skills were good but we have been disappointing as a group, admits KL Rahul
It seems like the captaincy pressure has got to his batting one way or the other as he spends more time on the crease now putting a price tag on his wicket. While the strategy is not a very bad option but it sure is a luxury for a side with a shaky middle-order like KXIP.
But no matter what, it is his scintillating form and unwavering focus that is KXIP’s brightest source of hope as they look to pull off a herculean task to keep their qualifying hopes alive this season. Rahul has been great as a captain too with his field placements and bowling changes. And with lady luck starting to smile on KXIP, we are up for a cracking end to this season of the IPL.
FS Desk
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