Ball was keeping a bit low, so we gave ourselves time in the powerplay: Rahul

For once, KL Rahul’s strike rate of 121.88 didn’t raise a lot of eyebrows, for the Jaipur wicket behaved a lot different than any other strip that has been laid out for the IPL this year. The variable bounce made it difficult for batters to score runs, and Lucknow Super Giants could only muster 154 runs in 20 overs against Rajasthan Royals before winning the game by 10 runs.

However, Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul feels that they were 10 runs short as far as the par total on the surface was concerned but he credited his bowlers for restricting the opposition below their total.

“In the 10 over mark, the message me and Kyle sent out was 160 would be a good total on this track, they have some good bowlers as well who exploited the conditions. We fell 10 short but made up with the ball. And there was no dew so made it fair for both teams,” Rahul said in the post-match presentation.

Rahul, on the first look on the eve of the game, predicted that 180 would probably been a good score on the surface but right after the first over bowled by Trent Boult, their assessment changed. 

“We came in here yesterday and saw 180 would be a par score, but the first over from Boult, me and Kyle had a chat and realised this isn't a 180 wicket. The ball was keeping a bit low, so we gave ourselves time in the powerplay. Maybe if we played a bit better, we might have got 170 as well,” Rahul added.