"KL Rahul is preparing for ODI World Cup"- Fans react after LSG captain's steady 74 helps LSG to 159/8 vs PBKS in IPL 2023

KL Rahul's 74-run knock helped the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) register a first innings total of 159/8 against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in their IPL 2023 match on Saturday, April 15. The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is playing host to this game.After being asked to bat first, Kyle Mayers (29) and KL Rahul gave a stable start to LSG with a 53-run opening partnership in 7.3 overs. Harpreet Brar dismissed the West Indies player to give PBKS their first breakthrough of the night.LSG's innings lost momentum after that as the middle-order batters failed to come to terms with the sluggish surface on offer. KL Rahul held one end and anchored the innings well while his partners kept deserting him after a short stay at the crease.Rahul played some brilliant shots en route to his first half-century of the season and led his side from the front. However, he could not provide the final flourish in the end as Arshdeep Singh dismissed him for 74 (off 56 balls) in the penultimate over.The LSG skipper's knock against PBKS evoked mixed reactions from fans on Twitter. A section of them hailed him for playing a responsible knock on a tricky pitch while the rest of the batters failed. Others felt that he could have accelerated a bit more in the end and were critical of his strike rate.Here are some of the reactions:Pulkit🇮🇳@pulkit5DxKL Rahul Is Preparing for ODI world Cup10318KL Rahul Is Preparing for ODI world Cup🔥 https://t.co/ihmDEEF5fBTukTuk Academy@TukTuk_AcademyEvery head must bow, every knee must bend, every tongue must confess, thou art the greatest the greatest of all time, Lord KL Rahul once again....played almost half of the innings with strike of 132, 74(56)....ufffff🥵 #LSGvPBKS11114Every head must bow, every knee must bend, every tongue must confess, thou art the greatest the greatest of all time, Lord KL Rahul once again....played almost half of the innings with strike of 132, 74(56)....ufffff🔥🥵 #LSGvPBKS https://t.co/VWDUqscJ2qManan@mananthakurrStinker of an innings from KL Rahul . Preparing such decks so he can play these knocks without getting berated by anyone9Stinker of an innings from KL Rahul . Preparing such decks so he can play these knocks without getting berated by anyoneDweplea@dwepleaKL Rahul, batting on 20 after PP ends with no wickets down, off spinner comes on for LHB at other end, favourable match up, takes 0 chances against him, pats him around to fielders, is now on a 100 SR.31929KL Rahul, batting on 20 after PP ends with no wickets down, off spinner comes on for LHB at other end, favourable match up, takes 0 chances against him, pats him around to fielders, is now on a 100 SR.Shakti Man 💥@IamShaktiMann@mufaddal_vohra Kl Rahul batting strike rate in T20s.Expectation Reality382@mufaddal_vohra Kl Rahul batting strike rate in T20s.Expectation Reality https://t.co/FPkUfYQYx9KL Siku Kumar@KL_Siku_KumarBoys love to perform against their EX#KLRahul785Boys love to perform against their EX#KLRahul https://t.co/VpMBYl7USFSaurabh Somani@saurabh_42KL Rahul gets to 4000 IPL runs. Roughly 3000 of them have been scored at a strike rate that hurt his team more than benefitted them.4016KL Rahul gets to 4000 IPL runs. Roughly 3000 of them have been scored at a strike rate that hurt his team more than benefitted them.Sahil 🇮🇳@Cric8_ExpertNo one literally no one KL Rahul everytime -11No one literally no one KL Rahul everytime - https://t.co/44vBihriLPParteekNotPrateek@randomcricfactsThis has been a good innings by KL Rahul on a pitch that wasn’t easy6This has been a good innings by KL Rahul on a pitch that wasn’t easyLordgod🚩@LordGod188Kl Rahul back in Orange Cap race with his unique style.#KLRahul 92Kl Rahul back in Orange Cap race with his unique style.#KLRahul https://t.co/ZreiZ79UABVIJAY NAYAK@VIJAYANAYAK17KL Rahul scored 74 in 56 balls with 8 fours and a six. A good innings by KL, he stood there at one end.KL Rahul scored 74 in 56 balls with 8 fours and a six. A good innings by KL, he stood there at one end. https://t.co/DIMCqZFHSvDheeraj Singh@Dheerajsingh_KL Rahul 74 on a Slowish Wicket Looks Better#CricketTwitter #LSGvPBKS473KL Rahul 74 on a Slowish Wicket Looks Better#CricketTwitter #LSGvPBKSJuman Sarma@cool_rahulfan74 runs - what an innings from the skip. KL Rahul gets back his form - very important for the team. People are talking about his SR but he was trying to get his form back and it wasn't easy to bat on this difficult Lucknow pitch. Almost every batter has failed apart from KL!274 runs - what an innings from the skip. KL Rahul gets back his form - very important for the team. People are talking about his SR but he was trying to get his form back and it wasn't easy to bat on this difficult Lucknow pitch. Almost every batter has failed apart from KL! https://t.co/VDhKbY044nSharjeel@Sharjeel0208KL Rahul Apni IPL Franchise ko hara dega lekin Aapki Dream 11 ki team ko haarne nahi dega #PBKSvsLSG95KL Rahul Apni IPL Franchise ko hara dega lekin Aapki Dream 11 ki team ko haarne nahi dega 😍#PBKSvsLSG https://t.co/2NFPbvZ7PdMOHAN shaiva@Mohanrocky987When u have 0 knowledge about cricket u call this innings is test innings and selfish knock#KLRahul1When u have 0 knowledge about cricket u call this innings is test innings and selfish knock#KLRahul https://t.co/fqCXhx8EY8Sudhanshu Ranjan Singh@memegineers_KL Rahul against PBKS is a different gender #LSGvsPBKS72KL Rahul against PBKS is a different gender #LSGvsPBKS https://t.co/LsJTXqEoilNJ@cricketfreaketKL You beautyyyy , Stood strong where everyone else failed. Onwards and Upwards !!#KLRahul #LSGvPBKS #AbApniBaariHai72KL You beautyyyy , Stood strong where everyone else failed. Onwards and Upwards !!#KLRahul #LSGvPBKS #AbApniBaariHaiMufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohraKL Rahul scored 74 in 56 balls with 8 fours and a six. A good innings by KL, he stood there at one end.57427KL Rahul scored 74 in 56 balls with 8 fours and a six. A good innings by KL, he stood there at one end. https://t.co/z8nUH4FTH2`@kurkureterI don't understand what has happened to KL Rahul???once upon a time he was India's best T20 batter but today -we are celebrating his 40 ball fifty-he has been branded as statpadder- people call him orange cap hungry aur pta nhi kya kyaUnreal Downfall for Kl Rahul628I don't understand what has happened to KL Rahul???once upon a time he was India's best T20 batter but today -we are celebrating his 40 ball fifty-he has been branded as statpadder- people call him orange cap hungry aur pta nhi kya kyaUnreal Downfall for Kl Rahul https://t.co/LHMRupY3wNRoshan Rai@RoshanKrRaii#LSGvsPBKSKL Rahul when someone asks him to play with a strike rate of more than 95 :929#LSGvsPBKSKL Rahul when someone asks him to play with a strike rate of more than 95 : https://t.co/ojK6sxBo1O&quot;If we bat smartly in the first six overs, apply the pressure, we should be fine!&quot;- PBKS batter Shahrukh Khan after LSG made 159/6Speaking at the mid-innings break, Punjab Kings batter Shahrukh Khan reflected on the first innings action, saying:&quot;The ball was following me a lot tonight, but happy that I did well. Sam was telling me that he needs tall fielders near the shorter boundary. The wicket looked dry but dew has kept in. Sam was telling me that it was skidding on well. The ball got wet during the last two overs. If we bat smartly in the first six overs, apply the pressure, we should be fine!&quot;At the time of writing, the match was keenly poised with PBKS at 75/4 after 11.2 overs.