Lucknow Super Giants chances for a spot in IPL playoffs are dwindling slowly, and KL Rahul's position as the team's captain hangs in uncertainty for the remaining two games following their humiliating defeat against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday.
It's widely believed that the LSG skipper, signed for a record Rs 17 crore before the 2022 auction, won't be retained either ahead of the mega auctions in 2025. However,rumors are suggesting that he might voluntarily step down to focus on his batting in the upcoming matches.
"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 said.
Following Sunrisers Hyderabad openers Travis Head (89 not out off 30 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (75 off 28 balls) reaching the target of 167 in less than 10 overs, videos surfaced on social media showing an agitated conversation between LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka and KL Rahul.
This is just pathetic from @LucknowIPL owner
— SRI (@srikant5333) May 8, 2024
Never saw SRH management with players on the field or even closer to dressing room irrespective of so many bad seasons and still face lot of wrath for getting involved. Just look at this @klrahul leave this shit next year #SRHvsLSG pic.twitter.com/6NlAvHMCjJ
This was after the LSG batters struggled to get going on the same track in Hyderabad.
Rahul's (29 off 33 balls) batting in the Powerplay has been one of the biggest reasons for LSG's below-par show in the cash-rich league and it seems that Goenka has finally run out of patience.
The India star has scored 460 runs in 12 games and could again cross the 500-run mark for the season but it is his strike-rate of 136.09 which is the problem.
LSG is still mathematically in contention as they can reach 16 points by winning their remaining two games -- vs Delhi Capitals in New Delhi on May 14 and vs Mumbai Indians at Wankhede on May 17.
However, it will be very difficult to massively improve upon the net run rate(-0.760).
In case, Rahul decides to step down, the vice-captain Nicholas Pooran, easily the team's most impactful batter in the season, is likely to take over for the remaining two games.
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