'Won't lie, there is a bit of pressure now' - KL Rahul after loss against RR in crucial fixture

Lucknow Super Giants and Rajasthan Royals locked horns with each other in the latest match of IPL 2022 where Sanju Samson and his men reigned superior to get an upper hand in the points table with better NRR. Winning the clash would have gifted Lucknow 18 points and assurance of a top-two finish but a dismal batting show led RR to bag the game by 24 runs. In the same light, skipper KL Rahul opened up on how they are a bit under the pump now and need to be on their toes for the next game.

It is now clear that who among RR and LSG will seal the second spot will depend on their last league game. Rahul spoke of how everything in this competition is hard-earned and that nothing comes easy. If they would have given their best against RR, they could have easily enjoyed their last game, keeping the pressure of winning at bay.

“I won’t lie, yes, there is a bit of pressure. We all know in this competition nothing comes easy and no point comes easy, and we’ve had to learn that the hard way. We could have so easily been sitting today and could have qualified and gone into the last game with a free mindset and try to enjoy our cricket,” said KL Rahul in the post-match press conference.

Every game brings its pressure and challenges: KL Rahul

“But obviously we are in a position where we have to win the next game. I think it’s good, we all know every game is important, every game brings its pressure and challenges, and it’s one more game for us to challenge ourselves as a team and try to win that game and carry that momentum forward and get some confidence out of the next game,” he added.

Talking of the game between RR and LSG, Rajasthan posted a challenging score of 178 runs on the board and a complete top-order failure meant that Lucknow remained 24 runs short of the desired target.