KL Rahul, the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is reportedly set to open with either Kyle Mayers or Deepak Hooda in the franchise’s first two games in the upcoming IPL 2023 thanks to the absence of Quinton de Kock who will be busy with South Africa’s ODI series against the Netherlands.
South Africa are set to play two ICC ODI Super League matches against West Indies ICC World Cup qualifier 50-over games against the Netherlands on March 31 and April 2, which will mean keeper-opener Quinton de Kock will not be available for LSG’s first two IPL 2023 matches.
LSG will take on DC on April 1 in Lucknow and then fly to Chennai for their next game against Chennai Super Kings. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, will be without the services of Proteas fast bowlers Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi.
“In case of De Kock, the best option is Kyle Mayers, who is also a left-hander and has a decent strike rate of close to 135 in T20Is. On Sunday, he was brilliant against South Africa during his 27-ball-51. So Mayers is favorite to partner Rahul in first two games,” a source privy to developments in LSG camp told PTI.
But if the LSG wants more firepower in their middle order or boosts their bowling unit with overseas players, they can have Deepak Hooda opening the innings. Hooda batted in the top order last season for LSG and was impressed enough to debut for India.
He already has a T20I century for India, which came against Ireland, and has shown that he can be an enforcer in the Powerplay overs with his improvisation skills.
Jaydev Unadkat Possible Replacement For Injured Mohsin Khan For Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
On the other hand, LSG is also sweating over the fitness of left-arm pacer Mohsin Khan who injured his shoulder last year and since then doing his rehabilitation with LSG’s strength and conditioning unit, is expected to miss at least the first leg of the tournament but team think-tank feels he might be available for the second phase.
As a ready replacement, LSG has the services of Jaydev Unadkat, though the Saurashtra veteran neither has the pace nor the lethal blockhole delivery like the UP man. Other options for LSG are Jammu and Kashmir’s Yudhvir Singh Charak or Vidarbha’s Yash Thakur, both of whom have made an impression at training sessions.