Lucknow Super Giants, for the most part, was tussling with Gujarat Titans for the coveted number one position which only requires one win to qualify for the finals. However, they weren’t able to topple Gujarat from the top position. Having said that, they still could have finished as the second best team in the competition if not for their untimely losses at inopportune moments. Nevertheless, they qualified to the playoffs on their very first IPL outing is something that they can cherish forever. This is a review of Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022.
Why was Lucknow knocked out in the eliminator?
I have often said this and will continue to say the samething again and again and again. Rahul, for all his ability and class, is not an opening batsman. His ideal position in white ball cricket is number 5. He really is at his best when there are only a few overs left. Whenever he opens the innings, he is unclear as to what is required. He is not able to decide between attack and defence and as a result, he goes into a shell and refuses to come out until it is quite late. Something bothers him when he opens and is unable to shake that disbelief off of his shoulders. That has held the destructive player in him at bay. The same cricketer, when he bats with just a few overs left, unleashes a destructive beast that he is almost unstoppable.
Unfortunately for Lucknow, the first Rahul turned up for them in the eliminator and that spelled their doom. Chasing over 200, there is no time to play oneself in. Rahul failed to assess the situation properly and carried on in his usual self. He adopted a poor strategy that backfired enormously. Twitter was set ablaze with criticism of Rahul that bordered on the ridiculous.
Rahul is too good a batsman to waste his abilities. He is not getting any younger and has only a few years left at the top level. Franchise may not want to direct him but the Indian selectors and the board must act now. Enough of Rahul as the opener nonsense. Knock some sense into him and tell him that he must consider himself to be a middle order batsman in all formats. He can contribute to Indian cricket much better.
Management and franchise must share the blame
Ofcourse, the team management and the franchise itself must share the blame for this exit. Rahul should not have been the captain in the first place. For someone who is not able to handle pressure, as can be clearly seen from his struggles while opening the innings, how did they decide that he must be the captain? Were there any criteria that were followed? Didn’t they not see how he failed so miserably in South Africa? Unable to win a single game in 4 attempts despite playing against an inexperienced South African side. Yet, the franchise thought in their wisdom that he was their best choice to lead the side.
Mistake one was made but mistake number two was even more glaring. Why didn’t the management tell him to be at his aggressive best? If he was reluctant to be that at the top, the management must have told him to bat down the order. This could have panned out better for Lucknow. Who knows, they may even have finished at the top.
The game has changed beyond recognition yet Rahul finds himself in the 90s mould. The problem is that his approach will filter onto the Indian team which will be much more disastrous.
The makeup of the team
Ofcourse, not everything is because of Rahul, though it is a major reason, the makeup of the team itself leaves a lot of questions to be answered. There were far too many allrounders for anyone’s liking. Allrounders are good to have but they cannot be the answer to a strong opposition total. There is a different between a proper batting or bowling allrounder when compared to an allrounder. The player is good in one aspect and alright in the other. You just cannot have Karan Sharma, Marcus Stoinis or Krunal Pandya in the top 5 or 6. Certainly not all of them in the same game. It clearly shows that Lucknow stuffed during the auctions. Who advised them to plunge for, improper allrounders rather than specialists will never be known.
Perhaps, just perhaps, though it cannot be the reason, Rahul felt the need to bat through the innings because of a lack of batting support. If that is the case, it is all the more reason for him to come down the order and provide the much needed finish for the team.
Just like Mumbai Indians, Lucknow does not have a single representative in the top 10 wicket takers. Avesh Khan is at 12th position but they have done well in the batting front with 3 representations. Mohsin Khan for all his excellent economy rate, was amongst the wickets. Krunal Pandya is at best a steady bowler and he probably was alright with the ball.
Conclusion to review of Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022
It was really a surprise that Lucknow Super Giants managed to win the games that they did despite not having a good side. Moreover, they finished as the 3rd best side in the competition with such meagre resources. Does it show the real quality of the opponents? Does it show that the quality of cricket being played in the IPL is not of the highest quality despite players from diverse backgrounds?
Anyway, Lucknow is out of the reckoning. The franchise may do well to trade certain players for good solid batsmen. If they can arrange for that, Lucknow will be a much feared opponents next time around. For now, they will do well to reflect on how best to accommodate Rahul the next time around. My recommendation is that he must come down the order. In this case, perhaps, Rahul Dravid, the Indian coach will have to take the lead. If he demotes Rahul to the middle order for India, the franchise will follow suit.
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