IPL 2020, DC vs KXIP: KL Rahul Calls Super Over Defeat A ‘Bittersweet’ One
Sep 21, 2020 at 11:36 AM
KXIP skipper KL Rahul is not too gutted by the loss against Delhi Capitals in their opening match of the IPL 2020, as he calls it a learning experience for the team. KXIP had won the toss and decided to bowl at the Dubai International stadium where the pitch is quite hard for the batsman to play on.
Delhi had set up a meagre 157 on the board in the first innings courtesy an important knock of 53 runs off 21 balls from Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.
KL Rahul could only manage to score 21 runs off 19 balls in his first match for the Punjab-based side as a captain. KXIP’s Mayank Agarwal went on to score an important knock of 89 runs helping his side to level the score at 157 and the match went for a super over. DC went on to win the super over after KXIP only gave them a target of three runs.
KL Rahul Calls This Defeat A “Bittersweet” One
Rahul feels the defeat against DC is bittersweet for how close they came to winning it. He also said there is plenty to learn from the game.
“It is bittersweet. If at the end of 10 overs, if you had said this match is going to a Super Over, I would have taken it. It’s still our first game, so lots of learning,” Rahul said.
KL Rahul hails Mayank Agrawal’s performance:
Mayank Agarwal was the only KXIP batsman who looked comfortable batting on the pitch and went on to score 89 runs off 60 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes.
The Karnataka batsman is still facing criticism for not finishing the game after coming so close. He needed one run off three balls to win the match when he got dismissed by Marcus Stoinis. However, skipper KL Rahul is all praises for his batsman and his effort for the team.
“He (Agarwal) was unbelievable and to get a game that close was magical. He’s been doing well in Tests and to get the game that close again brings a lot of confidence in the group,” said Rahul.
“Like I said at the toss, we didn’t know what to expect. The wicket remains the same for both teams, so can’t really complain. I will gladly take it as a captain whatever the result is. We stuck to what we planned but we did make a few mistakes. At 55 for five, we were calm and still positive,” he added.
KXIP will play their next game against RCB on 24th of September at the same ground of Dubai International Stadium.