Cricket

KL Rahul, the current captain of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), has opened up about his journey as a leader and the lessons he has learned along the way.After captaining the Punjab Kings for two seasons without success, Rahul joined LSG and has led them to the playoffs in both seasons. He attributes his current success to trusting his instincts and building strong relationships with his team."Building a team is about players you pick, key positions you can't afford to miss in the auction," Rahul said. "First few years of me captaining, I am not shy to admit, I made a few mistakes as well."Rahul credits his current success to trusting his instincts, something he said he didn't do enough in his initial days as a leader. He feels he has struck the right balance between backing his gut and listening to the advice of the team management."There is so much information coming as you captain. Which one to take and which one to not and see you have a gut feel which is against what the coaches are saying," he said. "Initially, it was hard to go against that as culturally we are taught to respect the elders. Somehow things did not go according to plan and I was not being able to sleep. I have realised you need to build the trust and bond not only with the players but also with the coaches. We both want the same thing."Rahul also spoke about the leadership styles of current India skipper Rohit Sharma and predecessor Virat Kohli."Rohit brought sense of calmness in the dressing room. The passion remains the same. It also helps that people have understood their roles and have had enough time to adjust to those roles," Rahul said. "Virat had already set the benchmark on how to be on the field and Rohit carried on with a bit of calmness."Rahul also labelled MS Dhoni and Kane Williamson as the true gentlemen of the game.

KL Rahul's return to the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) opener against Rajasthan Royals (RR) on March 24 will be a crucial test of his form and fitness. Rahul missed the last four Tests against England due to a quadriceps injury and was out for four months last year after undergoing thigh surgery.As LSG captain, Rahul will aim to lead the team to a strong start, especially after guiding them to successive playoffs in the first two seasons. He is likely to play purely as a batter, at least initially, but the additional burden of keeping could strengthen his chances of making the T20 World Cup squad.RR's Sanju Samson, Rahul's opposite number on March 24, is also a candidate for the wicket-keepers' role in the India squad for the ICC event. Samson will be keen to find his rhythm right from the start. RR came tantalizingly close to clinching a second title before Gujarat Titans broke their heart in the final in 2022.Both teams face tough decisions in selecting their best XI. RR boasts a solid batting line-up, including in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, and skipper Samson. They also have a finisher in Dhruv Jurel, who made an impressive India debut in the recent five-match Test series against England. Samson may consider strengthening the middle-order by bringing in West Indies' Rovman Powell to join countryman Shimron Hetmyer.LSG, on the other hand, will rely on Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stonis, and Nicholas Pooran to do the bulk of the scoring alongside skipper Rahul. The team will have to contend with spin wizards Ravichandran Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, who can run through any batting line-up on a given day.Lucknow also has a shrewd customer in leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who will be eager to put up a good show to put himself in line for a place in the T20 World Cup squad. Veteran leg-break bowler Amit Mishra is also a threat. However, their pace battery looks dim after foreign recruits Mark Wood and David Willey were ruled out and Indian talents Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan are plagued by fitness issues.The inexperience of pacer Yash Thakur and lack of game time for Shivam Mavi mean LSG might hand the responsibility to experienced Naveen ul Haq and West Indies sensation Shamar Joseph. It will be interesting to see how Justin Langer goes about his business in his first IPL assignment as coach of LSG.

KL Rahul on Track for IPL Return, Eyes T20 World Cup SelectionSenior Indian batsman KL Rahul is expected to be fit for the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, which begins on March 22. Rahul, who missed the last three Tests against England due to a quadriceps injury, has undergone surgery and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the BCCI's National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore.Rahul, the captain of the Lucknow SuperGiants, is eager to prove his worth in the IPL as he aims to earn a spot in India's T20 World Cup team as a wicketkeeper-batsman. A source close to the player revealed that Rahul consulted top medical experts in London before returning to India on Sunday."He is keen to prove his worth in the IPL as he's in line for selection in India's T20 World Cup team as a 'keeper-bat," the source told TOI.Rahul's injury woes began during the England tour last year, where he suffered a quadriceps strain in the second Test at Lord's. He underwent surgery in Germany in August and has been working diligently on his recovery since then.The Lucknow SuperGiants will kick off their IPL campaign against the Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur on March 24. Rahul's return to fitness will be a major boost for the franchise, which will be looking to make a strong impact in its debut season.If Rahul can regain his form and fitness in the IPL, he will be a strong contender for a place in India's T20 World Cup squad. The tournament is scheduled to be held in Australia later this year, and Rahul's experience and leadership qualities could prove invaluable for the team.