IPL 2023: The biggest talking point about Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals is the form of the two captains. Both KL Rahul and David Warner have been under the scanner for similar reasons due to their performances with the bat for their national sides. The last two Tests of the recently concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy saw Rahul dropped, and Warner missing due to injury – with many calling for his axe regardless.
The scrutiny is high, and their mental state warped, as both captains kick off their IPL campaign. With the home-and-away format ramping up expectations, both Rahul and Warner – unquestionably among the best batsmen in the tournament’s 15-year-long history – have eyes firmly placed on them.
A test as batsman and captain
With his form with the bat faltering – a match-winning unbeaten 75 in India’s recent ODI win over Australia notwithstanding – KL Rahul cannot be expected to be in the right place mentally either. It is, perhaps, the brutal nature of the batting talent India have in their ranks that Rahul, once a nailed-on all-format opener, is now finding it challenging to find his place in the Indian team in any format.
The criticism from Rahul has been coming from all ends – whether it’s former pros on a Twitter spree or fans waiting to see the next big Indian batting talent. It does not bode well for him that during his slump, Prithvi Shaw has been able to hit near-400 scores in the Ranji Trophy, Ishan Kishan has made an ODI double-hundred, and Shubman Gill has made a century (200 in ODI) in each format. No matter how you see it, this is set to be a massive IPL for the 30-year-old.
Rahul does, however, have an incredibly dependable IPL batting record – he has a 10-year average of 48 striking at 136.21. But for Lucknow, it is his leadership that will be under greater scrutiny. The opener was considered a shoo-in to replace Virat Kohli as India’s red-ball captain about 18 months ago, but since then, has seen his chances of national leadership slip away as Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya have made captaincy their domain.
Leading Lucknow presents a challenging task. Last year, the debutant team made the playoffs largely thanks to the big batting contributions from Rahul and Quinton de Kock at the top, but a few early wickets could see their lineup collapse. The balance of the team means that in any case, they need to play three foreign top-order batters – even if De Kock misses a few games at the start, Kyle Mayers is expected to replace him – with Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis needing to chip in with Rahul and Deepak Hooda at the top.
That leaves Rahul with only one specialist foreign bowler, meaning his leadership will be severely tested in how he uses someone like Krunal Pandya or expected impact player Amit Mishra to target batsmen on turners. Also, his management of death-bowling options like Jaydev Unadkat and Avesh Khan will be vital.
Rahul the batsman has always proved he will endure (he made 616 runs at 51.33 last IPL), but the real test will be of Rahul the captain.
Ashes question
Warner, on the other hand, has a well-established leadership group and tactical minds to riff off. Rishabh Pant was thrust into captaincy by Delhi after coach Ricky Ponting trusted him to execute his strategies. Losing Pant is a big loss, but Warner, who won the IPL as captain of Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, has shown he has a knack for leadership in the shortest format.
There may be a point to prove for him there – he has never been in Australian captaincy conversations ever since the Sandpaper scandal in 2018, even though Steve Smith was entrusted for most of Australia’s tour of India in Pat Cummins’ absence. But Warner’s form with the bat is of greater concern, especially with his place in the Ashes squad in question (even Ponting had said he should have considered test retirement after his 200 against South Africa last year). The opener has averaged just 29.48 since the start of 2021.
https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1641477889659920384
Despite him falling out of favour in Hyderabad, he can fall back on an all-time great IPL record. Warner is the third-highest run-getter in the competition’s history – getting 5881 runs at 42, striking at over 140. Last year, he averaged 48 with Delhi.
The Australian will need his batting chops back – the IPL had proven to be a place where he can rediscover his best – ahead of a huge few months regarding his international future.
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