{"id":33774,"date":"2024-04-23T20:27:42","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T20:27:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/23\/had-to-take-a-brave-call-says-kl-rahul-on-sending-marcus-stoinis-at-no-3-cricket-news-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2024-04-23T20:27:43","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T20:27:43","slug":"had-to-take-a-brave-call-says-kl-rahul-on-sending-marcus-stoinis-at-no-3-cricket-news-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/23\/had-to-take-a-brave-call-says-kl-rahul-on-sending-marcus-stoinis-at-no-3-cricket-news-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Had to take a ‘brave’ call, says KL Rahul on sending Marcus Stoinis at No.3 | Cricket News – Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
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NEW DELHI: Big hitting Aussie all-rounder Marcus Stoinis‘ pulled off a match-winning 63-ball-124 not out to outmuscle Chennai Super Kings<\/a> at their den in an IPL<\/a> thriller on Tuesday.
Stoinis’ maiden ton in the league trumped Ruturaj Gaikwad 108 not out as Lucknow Super Giants<\/a> secured a rare double over CSK this season — winning two in two against the 5-time champions.
As Stoinis miracle secured a famous win for Lucknow, skipper KL Rahul was all praise for the all-rounder as he snatched a win in a game where the hosts were favourites.
Rahul, who once said strike-rates are over-rated in T20s, admitted that a total like 180 which was considered challenging might not be enough in the day and age of ‘Impact Player’.
\u201cVery special (win), especially when it is a game like that. It felt like we were way behind the game in the chase. Just to pull off a victory feels special,\u201d Rahul said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Rahul said their win against CSK in Lucknow had little context on a very different Chennai deck.
\u201cThese were different conditions. They got off to a good start and put pressure on the bowlers. I didn’t think it was a 210 wicket.
\u201cThey batted really well. All credits to Stoinis. He was phenomenal to watch. It was not just power hitting, but was smart batting.\u201d
Sending Stoinis at No.3 was a smart move by LSG management and Rahul feels they had to take a “brave” call.
\u201cWe wanted to be a lot braver as a team. We had three games, a couple at home, and some away where we couldn’t go past 170. We needed one power hitter in the top three. That was the thought process.
\u201cI have also realised that T20 cricket has changed in the last couple of years \u2013 170-180 does not always cut it. You have to go harder in the powerplay.
\u201cThe Impact player gives you depth and that gives you more freedom. I have not played T20 cricket in a long time.\u201d
Asked if Nicholas Pooran can play up the order, the skipper said save him and Quinton de Kock as openers, none of the other positions are fixed.
\u201cThere is no set plan. Apart from the openers everyone is set to go at any point. The last game, Pooran walked in at three. Hope I get the fielder of the award.\u201d
CSK skipper Gaikwad, whose century went in vain felt that dew played a big role towards the latter half of the match.
\u201cTough pill to swallow but LSG played a good game at the end. We had the game in hand around the 13th over, but hats off to Stoinis.
\u201cThere was a huge part that the dew played. It took the spinners away from the game. We could have taken the game deeper. But it is a part of the game, you can’t control the uncontrollable.\u201d
Player of the match Stoinis said: \u201cIt is not just a go go. It was ebb and flow. There were some bowlers we targeted, some against whom we were cautious. Nicky Pooran played a good innings, Hooda also.
\u201cIt ebbed and flowed. From the inside you are always structuring. You are liking some bowlers, not liking others much.”
(With inputs from PTI)<\/span><\/div>\n