During Lucknow Super Giants’ second IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings, captain KL Rahul was absent for the toss. Nicholas Pooran stepped in as the stand-in captain, initially sparking concerns about Rahul’s fitness. However, Pooran’s decision to bat after winning the toss indicated that Rahul would participate as an Impact Player in the game.
Rahul had recently returned to action in the season opener against Rajasthan Royals after a two-month absence. Despite concerns about his fitness, Pooran assured that Rahul would play a limited role as a precautionary measure to manage his return from injury. Pooran mentioned that they aimed to give Rahul a break during the lengthy tournament but included him as an Impact Player that day.
The LSG captain had been sidelined due to a quadriceps injury sustained after the first Test against England. Following rehabilitation at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru, he was deemed fit for the IPL season. In his comeback match against the Royals, Rahul scored a vital 58 off 44 balls, but the lack of substantial contributions from other top-order batsmen led to the team’s defeat in the 194-run chase.
Looking ahead, both Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings are eager to secure a victory in the upcoming match. LSG is aiming for their first win of the season, while Punjab Kings suffered a setback with a recent loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Despite a strong start by defeating Delhi Capitals in their initial match, Punjab Kings seek to bounce back and secure their second win under the leadership of Shikhar Dhawan.
