Legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara named the cricketer he would want on his Test, ODI and T20I teams. Lara said he is really impressed by KL Rahul and loves the way he hits.
Rahul recently became the first Indian player to score more than 500 runs in three consecutive IPL seasons. The KXIP captain is currently the top scorer for IPL 2020 runs by some distance. Rahul has scored 525 runs in 9 games with an average of 75.00 scored with a strike rate of 135.65. He has scored five-fifty and also has the highest score of this season to his name: an undefeated 132 against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“He’s my test hitter, he’s my 50+ hitter and he’s my T20 hitter,” Lara said on Star Sports after KXIP beat the Mumbai Indians in an exciting contest that had to be decided via a second Super Over after both teams finished on equal terms not once but twice.
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“As captain he has done very well. I love the way he hits, I love the way he puts them together. Yes, he struggled to finish the games at the beginning, but now he’s also looking to improve that, ”Lara said.
Rahul snapped a brilliant 77 of 51 balls to bring KXIP to the brink of a successful chase, but teammates Deepak Hooda and Jordan were only able to level the scores at 176 of six in the stipulated 20 overs.
Rahul pitched seven fours and three sixes on his hit to cross 500 runs this season and take home KXIP almost singlehandedly.
He, along with Gayle (24), led KXIP to 75 for one in nine overs after losing to Mayank Agarwal (11) early in innings.
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However, Gayle was sent to pack by Rahul Chahar in the 10th and then Bumrah returned to fire Nicholas Pooran (24 of 11) to leave Punjab at 108 for 3.
Rahul then tossed Chahar for a six to bring in another fifty, but the leg-spinner made a nice comeback one ball later, knocking out Glenn Maxwell at the other end as KXIP slipped to 115 for four in the 14th.
He added another 38 with Deepak Hooda (23 not out) but was beaten by a Bumrah yorker in the 18th over.
This is not the first time Lara has praised KL Rahul. The former West Indies hitter had previously named Rahul his favorite hitter and praised his technique.
(With PTI inputs)
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