IPL 2024: 'Have KL Rahul bat down the order', Sanjay Manjrekar's 'drastic' suggestion for LSG skipper

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes that skipper KL Rahul should bat down the order for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, now that Devdutt Padikkal has been traded into the team from Rajasthan Royals (RR). Manjrekar was of the opinion that Padikkal could open with Quinton de Kock given the former’s success as a top-order batter. The 58-year-old said that Rahul could change his batting career in T20s as well as the fortunes of LSG should he end up batting down the order. IPL Auctions 2024: Lucknow Super Giants retained players, current squad, purse amount, remaining slots “I have got a very drastic suggestion. Because they have got somebody like a (Devdutt) Padikkal in, open with Padikkal and Quinton de Kock, because all good performances of Padikkal have come at the top,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports. “Have KL Rahul bat down the order. It will change KL Rahul’s T20 batting career and fortunes of the franchise as well,” added Manjrekar. In IPL 2023, Rahul finished with 274 runs from nine matches including two fifties. Rahul’s campaign, however, came to an unfortunate end after he sustained a thigh injury while fielding against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in May. Rahul then returned to action in September during an Asia Cup match against Pakistan in Colombi, where he scored an unbeaten century. And after an ODI World Cup where Rahul ended up scoring 452 runs from 11 matches, Rahul is now set to lead India in a three-match ODI series against South Africa in South Africa, starting on 17 December. The IPL 2024 player auction, meanwhile, is scheduled for 19 December in Dubai. LSG have a remaining purse of Rs 13.15 crore with six available slots left to fill.