'Just a poor performance overall' - KL Rahul analyses LSG’s crushing defeat to KKR at Ekana

Lucknow Super Giants sustained a crushing defeat at the hands of Kolkata Knight Riders in the 54th game of the IPL (Indian Premier League) 2024. Both sides locked horns at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, May 5. The clash began with KKR coming in to bat first and putting in an excellent performance with the bat, posting a total of 235 runs in the first innings.

In return, LSG only managed to score 137 runs in the run chase and eventually lost the game by 98 runs. Interestingly, it was the first time in the IPL 2024 that a side had scored 200 or more batting first in seven matches in Lucknow.

Talking about his side’s performance, LSG skipper KL Rahul came forward and opined that trying to go hard, chasing the mammoth total saw his side lose some early wickets, branding it a poor performance from his team.

"When you're chasing a big total, you try to go hard and you end up losing wickets. So just a poor performance overall," KL Rahul said at the post-match presentation ceremony. 

Furthermore, Rahul also talked about how the opener duo of Phil Salt and Sunil Narine put some early pressure on LSG’s bowlers, and he revealed how his side’s young bowlers could not handle that amount of pressure being put on them. 

"We've seen how they have batted. They put a lot of pressure on the opposition, and our young bowlers just couldn't handle that kind of pressure. He [Narine] hit some really, really good shots, and that's how the IPL is: you'll come up against some really good players, and that's when your character is tested. And I think we weren't up to the mark today,” Rahul said.

"Once we come here [to Lucknow], it's about execution, and we went wrong on that part. Bowlers tried their best. But the sooner you learn, the better it is for our team,” he added.