IPL 2024: KL Rahul to step down as captain of LSG – Reports

KL Rahul-led LSG have won six out of 12 games played to far in the IPL 2024.

Pressure is mounting on KL Rahul to relinquish the captaincy of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on his own before the team management decides for him. This comes after LSG were humiliated by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in match No. 57 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 in Hyderabad yesterday.

SRH, while chasing 166 runs, took only 58 balls to achieve the target with Travis Head making 89* in 30 balls and Abhishek Sharma slamming 75* in 28 balls and winning the match by 10 wickets. This was on the same pitch where KL Rahul struggled for 29 in 33 balls and LSG’s top order crumbled. It was only due to Nicholas Pooran’s 48* and Ayush Badoni’s unbeaten fifty that LSG managed 165/4 on the board.

But the way Head and Abhishek made a mockery of the target and the LSG bowlers, things went downhill for the visiting side.

In a viral video, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen in an animated chat with captain KL Rahul, while the cricketer meekly heard his angry boss. Goenka also had a chat with LSG coach Justin Langer, while Rahul managed to walk away from the situation.

The management won’t mind if KL Rahul plays the last two matches as a batter – Report

With LSG requiring two wins in two games to make it to the playoffs, KL Rahul’s future as captain is questionable for the next two games following their crushing defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday.

It is commonly assumed that the LSG captain, who was signed for a huge sum of Rs 17 crores before the 2022 IPL auction, will not be retained ahead of the huge auctions in 2025.

“There is a five-day gap before the next game against DC. As of now, no decision has been taken but it is understood that if Rahul plans to just concentrate on his batting for the remaining two games, the management won’t mind,” an IPL source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

If Rahul decides to step down, vice-captain Nicholas Pooran, undoubtedly the team’s most impactful batter this season, is expected to take over for the next two games.

The India star has 460 runs in 12 games and is on track to reach 500 for the season, but his strike rate of 136.09 is a concern.

LSG are still mathematically in contention, as they can achieve 16 points by winning their final two games — against the Delhi Capitals in New Delhi on May 14 and the Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on May 17.

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