Leaving Punjab Kings despite being the franchise’s captain and the leading run-scorer wasn’t an easy decision for KL Rahul. Having arrived at Lucknow Super Giants, the Karnataka lad has a new responsibility up his sleeves, and mentor Gautam Gambhir doesn’t want him to be making the same mistakes he did at PBKS.
Rahul ‘the captain’ would often take the back seat at Punjab, with the responsibility of holding one end together often affecting the opening batter’s strike-rate. Gambhir, issuing a clear message to Rahul, said that Rahul ‘the batsman’ has to take the front seat.
“Ultimately, it is the leader who is the flag-bearer of a team and so it’s Rahul who will lead Lucknow Super Giants on and off the field. For me, it is important to have KL Rahul the batter, who is also the captain of the team rather than KL Rahul, the captain, who also bats. I hope I am able to make you understand the difference,” he said in a conversation with PTI.
“Any captain should learn to take risks. I would want Rahul to take risks and unless you take calculated risks, you won’t know if you would succeed or not. Also this time, Quinton de Kock will be our wicketkeeper, so with no keeping duties, he can be free and relaxed, concentrating on his batting and leadership,” Gambhir further explained.
Rahul is also being seen as the future captain of the Indian team. He is presently the designated vice-captain in all three formats, with Rohit Sharma the skipper. Rahul has also led the Indian team on a handful of occasions in Rohit’s absence.
When asked if KL Rahul will be under additional pressure to prove his captaincy credentials for the future India job, Gambhir said one can’t be thinking of India ambitions while playing for the franchise in the IPL.
“Know one thing. There is a difference between being talked up as a future India captain and ultimately being appointed India captain. I have never believed that you should play IPL looking at the national team. IPL is a platform to express one’s self. One can grow as a leader but there are no guarantees that there is a time period that IPL will help you become India captain.”
Lucknow have assembled a strong squad going into the IPL 2022 season. However, the franchise lost its marquee overseas pacer Mark Wood to an injury just days before the start of the new season.
