Don't think any blame is on KL Rahul, the team has let him down: Tom Moody

Despite a terrific start against Gujarat Titans in match number 30 of the ongoing IPL 2023, Lucknow Super Giants ended up losing the game by seven runs. KL Rahul, who was anchoring well in the middle, lost his mojo towards the end as his team failed to chase a meagre total of 136 runs. The skipper looked in great touch, scoring his second half-century of the season but as the game progressed, he slowed down as LSG suffered their third defeat of the season.

Notably, KL was on the crease when LSG needed 12 runs to win the match in the final over. The opener tried to release some pressure in an attempt to clear the ropes but unfortunately, the ball went straight to Jayant Yadav. The batters who followed Rahul couldn’t make the most of the opportunity either and thus, the blame entirely fell on the captain who batted for the majority of LSG’s innings.

However, former cricketer Tom Moody believes the blame shouldn't fall on KL Rahul but on the entire team. He stated that the skipper, along with Kyle Mayers, gave a perfect start but the middle order batters couldn’t capitalise.

“I don't think any blame is on KL Rahul. I think the team has let him down. He and Kyle Mayers, at the top of the order, set the ideal platform to chase the target down. Whether Krunal Pandya should have come at No. 3 or not, still his contribution was adequate after that start. The rest of the team, and the way it was structured, as in the strategy around the batting order, was the difference,” Moody said during a discussion on ESPNcricinfo.

Notably, Rahul started the innings on a slower note and became the first opener in IPL history to play out two first-over maidens in consecutive innings. However, he bounced back immediately, scoring a half-century off 38 deliveries. 

Meanwhile, with the win, Gujarat have remained at number four on the IPL Points Table while Lucknow are currently at number three.