Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul surpassed MS Dhoni and became the player to score the most 50+ runs as a designated wicketkeeper in the Indian Premier League(IPL).
KL Rahul achieved this feat during the LSG vs CSK clash in Lucknow. The right-hander scored 82 runs in 53 balls and made a massive boost for his team in chasing 177 runs target.
Earlier, MS Dhoni who is travelling in the last stage of his IPL career holds the record for scoring the most 50-plus scores as a designated wicketkeeper in IPL.
KL Rahul scattered the record in a game against Chennai Super Kings and moreover led his team to win the game by 8 wickets. Following him, Quinton de Kock holds the 3rd spot with 23 fifty-plus scores.
Dinesh Karthik and former CSKian Robin Uthappa placed in fourth and fifth spots with 21 and 18 fifty-plus scores under their belt.
Most 50-plus scores as a designated wicketkeeper (IPL):
- 25 – KL Rahul
- 24 – MS Dhoni
- 23 – Quinton de Kock
- 21 – Dinesh Karthik
- 18 – Robin Uthappa
Speaking of the game, LSG won the toss and opted to bowl first where Ajinkya Rahane and Rachin Ravindra opened this innings. With huge expectations around the opening duo, Rachin failed to fulfil his duties and returned for a golden duck in Mohsin Khan’s delivery.
Following his dismissal, CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad was expected to make an impact but failed to withstand the LSG’s bowling attack. Yash Thakur dismissed Gaikwad for 17 runs and bagged the key wicket for CSK.
With Shivam Dube and Sameer Rizvi’s early wickets, CSK struggled to build a partnership. Somehow, Moeen and Jadeja made a 51-run partnership and led the team to a safer side. While the duo was expected to fire in the death overs, Ravi Bishnoi dismissed Moeen in the final ball of the 18th over.
Soon after his dismissal, the crowd erupted with loud cheer up — not for the wicket but for MS Dhoni who made his way to bat the death overs. The 42-year-old wicketkeeper batter struck 3 boundaries, and 2 sixes and scored an unbeaten 28 runs off just 9 deliveries and pumped CSK’s score to 176 runs for 6 wickets loss at the end of 20 overs.
On the other hand, LSG’s opening duo Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul scored an outstanding 134 for the first wicket. Mustafizur broke the partnership by dismissing de Kock for 54 runs while Matheesha Pathirana dismissed well-settled KL Rahul for 82 runs in the first ball of the 18th over.
The duo returned to the pavilion after making much damage to the CSK. With Pooran’s 12 balls 23, LSG clinched the victory by 8 wickets with an over to bowl.
With the victory, Lucknow Super Giants gained 2 points and moved to the 5th spot in the IPL 2024 points table while CSK remains in the 3rd spot.
Lucknow Super Giants will play their next game of the season against Chennai Super Kings on 23rd April in Chepauk stadium.
