KL Rahul, the Lucknow Super Giants skipper on Monday revealed the logic behind the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) new franchise acquiring Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and uncapped Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for the impending 2022 season of the tournament.

While KL Rahul was picked for a record INR 17 crore, Marcus Stoinis was roped in for INR 9.2 crore and Ravi Bishnoi for INR 4 crore.

KL Rahul, Ravi Bishnoi, Marcus Stoinis. (Photo: Twitter)

KL Rahul: Lucknow Wanted To Get 3 Pillars Shorted

Speaking on Backstage with Boria, KL Rahul explained that Lucknow wanted to get the “three pillars-batsman, bowler, all-rounder sorted” ahead of the mega two-day auction which will be held on February 12 and 13.

“The idea behind (picking) Stoinis and Bishnoi is very simple. When you are trying to get three retentions, you want to get three pillars sorted. You have an opening batter in me, you have an all-rounder in Stoinis, who can bat No. 5-6. We’ve seen that in Big Bash, he has opened as well. He’s a very flexible player. He gives you a sixth bowling option as well.”

Marcus Stoinis, who was previously part of Delhi Capitals for the last two seasons, played with KL Rahul in then Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 season when the Indian batter was named as the skipper. Ravi Bishnoi, on the other hand, was part of the Punjab Kings team for the last two seasons.

“We’ve seen in the history of IPL that wrist spinners have done really well and whoever is available in this auction will be hot. We felt getting all of us would give us a good start as a team.”

KL Rahul was effusive in praise for the two players when talking about their commitment towards the game. Marcus Stoinis is a huge pick by the Lucknow team as he has been an integral part of the Delhi Capitals side over the past few seasons when the team qualified for their maiden IPL final (2020) and also made it to the knock-outs in the rest of the two seasons (2019 and 2021).

“Marcus is a very committed player and is a brilliant team man. Bishnoi has a big heart for a youngster who hasn’t played too much. In IPL cricket he has shown a lot of heart. He wanted to be in the fight and bowl to the likes of Pollard, Russell, Hardik and Rishabh. Whenever they came in, he would say, to give the ball. I can see him playing for India soon and for a long time,” he said.

KL Rahul will lead the Lucknow Super Giants side in IPL 2022, scheduled for a March 27 start. Sanjiv Goenka had made it clear that KL Rahul, who was released by the Punjab Kings, has been picked with an aim to make him the captain. KL Rahul has been the best opener in IPL since 2018 and scored 659, 593, 670, and 626 runs in the past four seasons, respectively.

Ravi Bishnoi Can Bowl At Different Stages Of The Game: Gautam Gambhir

Lucknow Super Giants Team mentor Gautam Gambhir further explained that Ravi Bishnoi has the ability to take wickets at any stage of the game. Lucknow franchise will enter the IPL 2022 Mega Auction with a purse value of INR 59.89 crores.

“Ravi Bishnoi, for me, made a lot of sense. He is young, is a wicket-taking option. He’s going to be a sure shot guy in the playing XI. He can bowl at different stages of the game. More importantly, he is an uncapped player as well. From every sense, it made a lot of logic for us to get him on board.”

Ravi Bishnoi has been a consistent performer in the IPL too, picking up 24 wickets in 23 matches at an economy of 6.96. The youngster highlighted the importance of being integrated straight into the first-team plans after being roped in by the Punjab Kings in 2020. He was the standout spinner for the franchise.

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