NEW DELHI: Lucknow Super Giants' defeat at the hands of Sunrisers Hyderabad in the
IPL 2024
match has sparked a candid critique from New Zealand pacer
Mitchell McClenaghan
, who didn't hold back in his assessment of LSG skipper
KL Rahul
's batting style.
Following LSG's lackluster performance, McClenaghan slammed Rahul's timid approach at the crease, particularly pointing out his 33-ball 29 knock, which failed to provide the necessary momentum for his team.
"If this doesn't wake KL up to the style of cricket he needs to play going forward to be successful and to continue playing for India, I don't know what will," remarked McClenaghan in an ESPNcricinfo interview.
McClenaghan highlighted Rahul's perceived burden of shouldering the team's batting responsibilities, urging him to trust his teammates and adopt a more aggressive mindset without the fear of failure. "Trust the other guys to do the job. It looks like he's carrying the whole team on his back," McClenaghan added.
The Kiwi pacer emphasized the role of coaching support in facilitating Rahul's transition, suggesting that messages of encouragement from top management, including
Rahul Dravid
and
Rohit Sharma
, could aid in boosting LSG skipper's confidence.
"It's going to take a really good coach and a good coaching structure or management to give him the confidence that it's okay to fail and we're not going to drop you," stated McClenaghan, underlining the need for a supportive environment for Rahul's development.
Despite the criticism, McClenaghan expressed faith in Rahul's abilities and his potential to bounce back. "He's one of the best batters going around and he will bounce back from this," McClenaghan concluded, offering optimism amidst the critique of the LSG skipper's performance.
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