'Once a legend said Strike rate doesn't matter' - Fans react as KL Rahul's bizarre half-century against GT costs LSG the match

KL Rahul (Source: Twitter)

In yet another low-scoring thriller match of the Indian Premier League 2023, defending champions Gujarat Titans beat KL Rahul's Lucknow Super Giants. In the nail-biting thriller, GT beat LSG by 7 runs as the hosts failed to chase down 136 runs in 20 overs. It will be safe to say that LSG skipper KL Rahul's slow innings cost them a game as he scored 68 runs off 61 balls.

Earlier, after opting to bat first at the Ekana Stadium, Gujarat did not have the best start. The decision didn't go well with the team as opener Shubman Gill was dismissed by Krunal Pandya for a two-ball duck. After his dismissal, skipper Hardik Pandya came to bat and added 68 runs off 55 balls for the second wicket, along with Wriddhiman Saha.

The wicketkeeper-batter in his innings scored 47 runs off 37 balls, while Hardik struck 66 from 50 balls, including four maximums and two boundaries. GT finished with a score of 135-6 runs in 20 overs, which was below par.

Mohit Sharma created havoc in the last over

Chasing 136 looked doable for Lucknow Super Giants after an excellent start. Openers KL Rahul and Kyle Mayers added 55 runs for the first wicket in 39 balls, with Mayers scoring 24 runs off 19 balls before being dismissed by Rashid Khan. After his departure, Krunal Pandya came to bat, and he and Rahul added 51 runs for the second wicket, with Krunal scoring 23 runs off 23 balls, with the help of a boundary before being dismissed by Noor Ahmed.

Meanwhile, in the last over, LSG needed 12 runs off 6 balls with KL Rahul batting in the middle. Rahul failed to hold his nerves against Mohit Sharma and threw his wicket and the match too. GT pacer Mohit Sharma bowled brilliantly in the last over as he defended 12 runs and clinched two wickets and the match too. Meanwhile, fans react to KL Rahul's slow innings.

Here are some Tweets:

Match was fixed. From 30 needed of 36. 12 needed of 6 clear fixing. Lucknow players got paid to play slow.#IPL2O23 #LSGvGT #LucknowSuperGiants #fixing #IPLOnStar #IPLonJioCinema #IPL23 #IPL #IPLUpdate #KLRahul #HardikPandya #KLRahul𓃵 pic.twitter.com/Op0w6fwDtm

— Tarun Krishna (@skull__punisher) April 22, 2023

No caption required ... 🤣🤣🤣#fixing #KLRahul #gambhir #LSGvsGT #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/JfUN3EAldh

— Abhishek pratap Singh (@Abhinav__21) April 22, 2023

KL Rahul thinks he plays for LSG

Actually he is the 12th player of the opposing team 😂#LSGvsGT pic.twitter.com/nm1JSFNTBZ

— VECTOR⁴⁵🕉️ (@Vector_45R) April 22, 2023

When the lights are brightest,
Pressure is highest,
Crowds are the loudest,
The best will arrive,
The strongest will survive,
The greatest will thrive,
The KL RAHUL , Man of big matches, Take a bow🙇‍♂️🔥🔥 #LSGvGT pic.twitter.com/ucROSekozJ

— KL Rahul's TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) April 22, 2023

Kl Rahul is the worst and most boring T20 batsman cricket ever produced pic.twitter.com/Bfcjlusgzi

— MONK. (@itsmonk_45) April 22, 2023

Gambhir asking to KL Rahul about game finishing 😛
KL Rahul - #IPL2O23 #KLRahul #GTvsLSG pic.twitter.com/TDBdee9UU4

— Yogi Says (@imyogi_26) April 22, 2023

#KLRahul Post Match Speech...#GTvsLSG #LSGvGT pic.twitter.com/53SAryGZqt

— Fukkard (@Fukkard) April 22, 2023

Gambhir expression Says it all .. probably worst innings by an opener in 15 years history of IPL #KLRahul 68 runs of 61 balls pic.twitter.com/FwoAlZjr1D

— Super Sampangi (@supersampangi) April 22, 2023