IPL 2024: Rating Opening Pairs after the first game of each team

6. Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul- 6/10

LSG faced a 20-run defeat in their maiden 2024 IPL game against RR in Jaipur. Chasing a massive target of 194, Lucknow could amass only 173 runs. Their opening pair Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul were expected to do wonders with their bats to make the chase successful but Trent Boult got the better of the former in the first over and handed a huge blow to the visitors.

De Kock returned to the dugout after scoring only four runs but skipper Rahul stood at the crease and watched the cheap dismissals of Devdutt Padikkal and Ayush Badoni as well. He stitched crucial partnerships with Deepak Hooda and Nicholas Pooran before losing his wicket to Sandeep Sharma in the 17th over. Rahul departed after scoring 58 off 44 and following his wicket, Nicholas Pooran, who scored an excellent half-century, didn’t get enough support from the other end which led to Lucknow’s loss.