Match 4 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition saw two new teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) face each other on Monday evening (March 28). As both teams were eager to start off the season with a win, it was Hardik Pandya-led GT franchise that went past the finish line, courtesy five wickets in pursuit of 159,&nbsp;in a tight contest.

There were plenty of moments in the marquee encounter, which was held at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. It saw two best friends KL Rahul and Hardik square off as captains whereas the Pandya brothers also competed against each other for the first time in IPL history. In addition, the Indian cricket fans enjoyed watching Krunal-Deepak Hooda bury their hatchet and play together in the Lucknow franchise.

In chase of a challenging 159, Hardik &amp; Co. had lost opener Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar in a flash. However, they had their experienced duo -- Matthew Wade and captain Hardik -- in the middle at the halfway stage. Needing 87 off 60 balls, Hardik took on his elder brother Krunal on the first ball of the 11th over and paid the price; being caught at the deep for a 28-ball 33.&nbsp;

Dismissing his young brother, Krunal's reaction went viral as he didn't celebrate the wicket and hesitantly hugged his teammates. Here's the video:

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/srh-vs-rr-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-sunrisers-hyderabad-vs-rajasthan-royals-match-466598">SRH vs RR, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals match?</a>

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WATCH - Battle of brothers: <a href="https://twitter.com/krunalpandya24?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@krunalpandya24</a> goes one up on Hardik. 
 
Full video 📽️📽️<a href="https://t.co/EWbIHmwR3p">https://t.co/EWbIHmwR3p</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GTvLSG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GTvLSG</a> <a href="https://t.co/xE2omUC2V2">pic.twitter.com/xE2omUC2V2</a>
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/IPL/status/1508495054092255233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-krunal-hooda-hug-it-out-during-lucknow-super-giants-face-off-vs-gujarat-titans-watch-466560">IPL 2022: Krunal, Hooda hug it out during Lucknow Super Giants' face-off vs Gujarat Titans - WATCH</a>

Hardik spoke about getting dismissed to his elder brother at the post-match presentation and said, "Getting out to Krunal would have pinched me more had we lost, but now the family is neutral and happy. He got me out and we won the match."

After Mohammed Shami's three-fer restricted Lucknow to 158-6, Gujarat ended the run-chase in the last over courtesy Rahul Tewatia (24 off 40 not out) and David Miller's vital knocks.

Match 4 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition saw two new teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) face each other on Monday evening (March 28).

Match 4 of the ongoing IPL 2022 edition saw two new teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) face each other on Monday evening (March 28). As both teams were eager to start off the season with a win, it was Hardik Pandya-led GT franchise that went past the finish line, courtesy five wickets in pursuit of 159, in a tight contest. There were plenty of moments in the marquee encounter, which was held at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. It saw two best friends KL Rahul and Hardik square off as captains whereas the Pandya brothers also competed against each other for the first time in IPL history. In addition, the Indian cricket fans enjoyed watching Krunal-Deepak Hooda bury their hatchet and play together in the Lucknow franchise. In chase of a challenging 159, Hardik & Co. had lost opener Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar in a flash. However, they had their experienced duo -- Matthew Wade and captain Hardik -- in the middle at the halfway stage. Needing 87 off 60 balls, Hardik took on his elder brother Krunal on the first ball of the 11th over and paid the price; being caught at the deep for a 28-ball 33. Dismissing his young brother, Krunal's reaction went viral as he didn't celebrate the wicket and hesitantly hugged his teammates. Here's the video: ALSO READ | SRH vs RR, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rajasthan Royals match? WATCH - Battle of brothers: @krunalpandya24 goes one up on Hardik. Full video 📽️📽️https://t.co/EWbIHmwR3p #TATAIPL #GTvLSG pic.twitter.com/xE2omUC2V2 — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 28, 2022 × ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Krunal, Hooda hug it out during Lucknow Super Giants' face-off vs Gujarat Titans - WATCH Hardik spoke about getting dismissed to his elder brother at the post-match presentation and said, "Getting out to Krunal would have pinched me more had we lost, but now the family is neutral and happy. He got me out and we won the match." After Mohammed Shami's three-fer restricted Lucknow to 158-6, Gujarat ended the run-chase in the last over courtesy Rahul Tewatia (24 off 40 not out) and David Miller's vital knocks.

IPL 2022: Krunal refrains from celebrating brother Hardik's wicket, his reaction goes viral - WATCH

Match 4 of the IPL 2022 edition will see two debutant teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) face each other at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday evening (March 28). After much wait, the two new sides will start their respective campaigns as the ardent IPL fans will be eager to see what they bring to the table overall.

Talking about the Lucknow franchise, they will be without some big players in the initial few games. The likes of Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers and Marcus Stoinis will not be available. On the other hand, GT isn't missing a lot of players at present. They don't have Jason Roy, who pulled out of the season citing bio-bubble concerns. Alzarri Joseph will join them in a bit. However, GT's main worry is the lack of big Indian batters in the middle. All in all, it will be interesting to see how Hardik Pandya fills in the gaps and leads in his maiden season.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-rohits-mi-attain-unwanted-record-after-going-down-to-dc-lose-opening-game-for-10th-time-in-a-row-466233">IPL 2022: Rohit's MI attain unwanted record after going down to DC, lose opening game for 10th time in a row</a>

Match prediction for Lucknow vs Gujarat:&nbsp;Both sides will meet each other at the Wankhede Stadium, which hosted the season-opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The pitch was a bit dump on that day and run-scoring became easier as the game progressed, due to the dew factor. The two new captains will be eager to bowl first and a lot will fall upon the finishers from both the camps if the match goes down the wire in a high-scoring affair.&nbsp;

Tough to predict a winner. Lucknow is slightly more powerful in batting and have all-rounders in their mix. Meanwhile, Gujarat have a challenging set of bowlers.

Match 4 of the IPL 2022 edition will see two debutant teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) face each other at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday evening (March 28).

Match 4 of the IPL 2022 edition will see two debutant teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) face each other at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai on Monday evening (March 28). After much wait, the two new sides will start their respective campaigns as the ardent IPL fans will be eager to see what they bring to the table overall. Talking about the Lucknow franchise, they will be without some big players in the initial few games. The likes of Jason Holder, Kyle Mayers and Marcus Stoinis will not be available. On the other hand, GT isn't missing a lot of players at present. They don't have Jason Roy, who pulled out of the season citing bio-bubble concerns. Alzarri Joseph will join them in a bit. However, GT's main worry is the lack of big Indian batters in the middle. All in all, it will be interesting to see how Hardik Pandya fills in the gaps and leads in his maiden season. ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Rohit's MI attain unwanted record after going down to DC, lose opening game for 10th time in a row Match prediction for Lucknow vs Gujarat: Both sides will meet each other at the Wankhede Stadium, which hosted the season-opener between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The pitch was a bit dump on that day and run-scoring became easier as the game progressed, due to the dew factor. The two new captains will be eager to bowl first and a lot will fall upon the finishers from both the camps if the match goes down the wire in a high-scoring affair. Tough to predict a winner. Lucknow is slightly more powerful in batting and have all-rounders in their mix. Meanwhile, Gujarat have a challenging set of bowlers.

LSG vs GT, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans match?

KL Rahul got off to a disappointing start to his stint with Lucknow Super Giants as the opener was dismissed for a golden duck against Gujarat Titans during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter on Monday. He was dismissed by a brilliant swinging delivery from Mohammed Shami.<o:p></o:p>

Rahul, who will be leading the debutants Lucknow Super Giants this season, was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the season after scoring an impressive number of runs in the last two seasons.<o:p></o:p>

On Monday, Rahul was foxed by the late swing from Shami on the first ball of the day and the review showed that he had nicked the delivery into the gloves of wicket-keeper Matthew Wade.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-catch-of-the-tournament-shubman-gill-plucks-a-stunner-against-gujarat-titans-watch-466447" hreflang="en">Catch of the tournament? Shubman Gill plucks a stunner against Gujarat Titans - WATCH</a>

It was the first duck for KL Rahul after 56 innings in the IPL with the last one coming against Gujarat Lions in 2016 when he was dismissed for a golden duck by pacer Dhawal Kulkarni.<o:p></o:p>

KL Rahul has scored 3273 runs in 95 IPL matches. The right-hander scored 397 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2016 season but he was released from the franchise.<o:p></o:p>

KL Rahul continued to perform well after joining Punjab Kings scoring 659 runs in 2018, 593 runs in 2019, 670 runs in 2020 and 626 runs in 2021 and he even led the Punjab side for 2020 and 2021.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/33-wides-rcb-and-punjab-kings-register-bizarre-record-in-high-scoring-ipl-2022-clash-466412" hreflang="en">33 wides! RCB and Punjab Kings register bizarre record in high-scoring IPL 2022 clash</a>

Earlier, Gujarat Titans&nbsp;won the toss and opted to field against Lucknow Super Giants.<o:p></o:p>

Gujarat Titans&nbsp;went with four overseas options in their season opener – Lockie Ferguson, David Miller, Rashid Khan and Matthew Wade. While, on the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants used just three of their overseas players – Quinton de Kock, Evin Lewis and Dushmantha Chameera.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p></o:p>

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KL Rahul got off to a disappointing start to his stint with Lucknow Super Giants as the opener was dismissed for a golden duck against Gujarat Titans during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter on Monday.

KL Rahul got off to a disappointing start to his stint with Lucknow Super Giants as the opener was dismissed for a golden duck against Gujarat Titans during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 encounter on Monday. He was dismissed by a brilliant swinging delivery from Mohammed Shami. Rahul, who will be leading the debutants Lucknow Super Giants this season, was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the season after scoring an impressive number of runs in the last two seasons. On Monday, Rahul was foxed by the late swing from Shami on the first ball of the day and the review showed that he had nicked the delivery into the gloves of wicket-keeper Matthew Wade. Also read | Catch of the tournament? Shubman Gill plucks a stunner against Gujarat Titans - WATCH It was the first duck for KL Rahul after 56 innings in the IPL with the last one coming against Gujarat Lions in 2016 when he was dismissed for a golden duck by pacer Dhawal Kulkarni. KL Rahul has scored 3273 runs in 95 IPL matches. The right-hander scored 397 runs for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2016 season but he was released from the franchise. KL Rahul continued to perform well after joining Punjab Kings scoring 659 runs in 2018, 593 runs in 2019, 670 runs in 2020 and 626 runs in 2021 and he even led the Punjab side for 2020 and 2021. Also read | 33 wides! RCB and Punjab Kings register bizarre record in high-scoring IPL 2022 clash Earlier, Gujarat Titans won the toss and opted to field against Lucknow Super Giants. Gujarat Titans went with four overseas options in their season opener – Lockie Ferguson, David Miller, Rashid Khan and Matthew Wade. While, on the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants used just three of their overseas players – Quinton de Kock, Evin Lewis and Dushmantha Chameera.

IPL 2022: KL Rahul dismissed for golden duck on debut for Lucknow Super Giants

KL Rahul will be looking to continue his brilliant run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he makes his debut for his new franchise Lucknow Super Giants. After a long association with Punjab Kings, Rahul decided to part ways and he was retained by the Lucknow franchise for INR 17 crore.<o:p></o:p>

Rahul will also be leading the Lucknow Super Giants side in their first season of IPL

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-sunil-gavaskar-opines-on-kl-rahuls-captaincy-stint-with-punjab-kings-466353" hreflang="en">IPL 2022: Sunil Gavaskar opines on KL Rahul's captaincy stint with Punjab Kings</a>

While Rahul has produced brilliant performances in the IPL over the years, he has also played the highest&nbsp;number of dot balls during the powerplay phase since 2019. Off the 661 deliveries he has faced in the first six overs of the match, he has played 295 dots. That is the most by any batsman since 2019 with compatriot Shikhar Dhawan comes second with 274 dots out of 650 balls faced.<o:p></o:p>

This is an approach that can be seen in his batting since becoming the Punjab Kings skipper as his strike rate before the 2019 season was in the early 140s but it dropped to the 120s in 2019. With a brittle middle order, the onus was on Rahul and other top order batsman to guide the innings.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-krunal-pandya-deepak-hooda-to-feature-lucknow-super-giants-predicted-playing-xi-for-gt-clash-466274" hreflang="en">Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda to feature? Lucknow Super Giants' predicted playing XI for GT clash</a>

However, Rahul will be partnering Quinton de Kock in Lucknow Super Giants and the South Africa international is known for his six hitting prowess in the powerplays. De Kock has slammed 36 sixes in the first six overs since 2019 – the most by any batsman with Rahul in second spot with 29.<o:p></o:p>

Lucknow Super Giants will start their campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Lions on Monday.<o:p></o:p>

KL Rahul will be looking to continue his brilliant run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he makes his debut for his new franchise Lucknow Super Giants. After a long association with Punjab Kings, Rahul decided to part ways and he was retained by the Lucknow franchise for INR 17 crore.

KL Rahul will be looking to continue his brilliant run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) when he makes his debut for his new franchise Lucknow Super Giants. After a long association with Punjab Kings, Rahul decided to part ways and he was retained by the Lucknow franchise for INR 17 crore. Rahul will also be leading the Lucknow Super Giants side in their first season of IPL Also read | IPL 2022: Sunil Gavaskar opines on KL Rahul's captaincy stint with Punjab Kings While Rahul has produced brilliant performances in the IPL over the years, he has also played the highest number of dot balls during the powerplay phase since 2019. Off the 661 deliveries he has faced in the first six overs of the match, he has played 295 dots. That is the most by any batsman since 2019 with compatriot Shikhar Dhawan comes second with 274 dots out of 650 balls faced. This is an approach that can be seen in his batting since becoming the Punjab Kings skipper as his strike rate before the 2019 season was in the early 140s but it dropped to the 120s in 2019. With a brittle middle order, the onus was on Rahul and other top order batsman to guide the innings. Also read | Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda to feature? Lucknow Super Giants' predicted playing XI for GT clash However, Rahul will be partnering Quinton de Kock in Lucknow Super Giants and the South Africa international is known for his six hitting prowess in the powerplays. De Kock has slammed 36 sixes in the first six overs since 2019 – the most by any batsman with Rahul in second spot with 29. Lucknow Super Giants will start their campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Lions on Monday.

IPL 2022: Numbers reveal one area of concern for Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul

KL Rahul was the skipper for Punjab Kings during the 2020 and 2021 seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but he was unable to guide the franchise to their first ever title.

However, ahead of the new season, the batsman decided to part ways with the franchise and he will now be leading the newcomers Lucknow Super Giants as he was retained for INR 17 crore ahead of the mega auction.<o:p></o:p>

Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar gave his opinion on KL Rahul’s captaincy stint with Punjab Kings and said that things can be different for him at the Lucknow Super Giants this year.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-krunal-pandya-deepak-hooda-to-feature-lucknow-super-giants-predicted-playing-xi-for-gt-clash-466274" hreflang="en">Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda to feature? Lucknow Super Giants' predicted playing XI for GT clash</a>

"When he was the captain of Punjab Kings, he seemed to be preoccupied, maybe he was not getting the 11 that he wanted. The new franchise Lucknow Super Giants is going to be a different challenge for KL and if he can bat the way he did in previous seasons and take the team to the knockouts if not actually the finals, then he would have taken a big step forward as far as his own cricketing career is concerned," Gavaskar said when asked about KL Rahul on Star Sports show 'Gameplan'.<o:p></o:p>

The batting legend also said that Rahul along with Quinton de Kock will make a brilliant opening pair for Lucknow Super Giants and it will be a huge asset for the side in this year’s competition.<o:p></o:p>

"The best part about Quinton de Kock is the fact that he also has captaincy experience. He has been a captain of South Africa and knows all formats of the game. He knows what team building is all about because we are talking about a different team now. He will be very keen to contribute towards the team building process," Gavaskar added while talking about the opening pair.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lsg-vs-gt-ipl-2022-prediction-today-who-will-win-lucknow-super-giants-vs-gujarat-titans-match-466246" hreflang="en">LSG vs GT, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans match?</a>

"KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock's right-hand and left-hand combination makes a devastating opening pair and they can get the team off to a flying start," he further stated.

<o:p>Lucknow Super Giants will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Lions on Monday.</o:p>

KL Rahul was the skipper for Punjab Kings during the 2020 and 2021 seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but he was unable to guide the franchise to their first ever title.

KL Rahul was the skipper for Punjab Kings during the 2020 and 2021 seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL) but he was unable to guide the franchise to their first ever title. However, ahead of the new season, the batsman decided to part ways with the franchise and he will now be leading the newcomers Lucknow Super Giants as he was retained for INR 17 crore ahead of the mega auction. Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar gave his opinion on KL Rahul’s captaincy stint with Punjab Kings and said that things can be different for him at the Lucknow Super Giants this year. Also read | Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda to feature? Lucknow Super Giants' predicted playing XI for GT clash "When he was the captain of Punjab Kings, he seemed to be preoccupied, maybe he was not getting the 11 that he wanted. The new franchise Lucknow Super Giants is going to be a different challenge for KL and if he can bat the way he did in previous seasons and take the team to the knockouts if not actually the finals, then he would have taken a big step forward as far as his own cricketing career is concerned," Gavaskar said when asked about KL Rahul on Star Sports show 'Gameplan'. The batting legend also said that Rahul along with Quinton de Kock will make a brilliant opening pair for Lucknow Super Giants and it will be a huge asset for the side in this year’s competition. "The best part about Quinton de Kock is the fact that he also has captaincy experience. He has been a captain of South Africa and knows all formats of the game. He knows what team building is all about because we are talking about a different team now. He will be very keen to contribute towards the team building process," Gavaskar added while talking about the opening pair. Also read | LSG vs GT, IPL 2022 prediction today: Who will win Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans match? "KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock's right-hand and left-hand combination makes a devastating opening pair and they can get the team off to a flying start," he further stated. Lucknow Super Giants will begin their IPL 2022 campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Lions on Monday.

IPL 2022: Sunil Gavaskar opines on KL Rahul's captaincy stint with Punjab Kings

KL Rahul is all set to embark on a new journey in his Indian Premier League (IPL) career as he will lead debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming season. Rahul captained Punjab Kings for two seasons and was also their leading run-getter in both the editions before deciding to leave the franchise to join Lucknow Super Giants this year.

At Punjab Kings, the expectations were high from Rahul when he was appointed as the leader of the side ahead of IPL 2020. However, he failed to impress as a captain as Punjab failed to make it to the playoffs in two seasons under his leadership. The imbalance in Punjab's squad and an inconsistent middle-order were seen as two of the major reasons behind the team's struggles under Rahul.

As an opener, Rahul would lead from the front and score heap of runs for his franchise but the lack of support in the middle-order often hampered his strike rate and aggressive instincts while batting. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who will be the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022, wants Rahul to not repeat the mistakes from his time at Punjab Kings.

Gambhir said he would like Rahul the batter to take charge and take calculated risks in order to improve his and his team's performances on the pitch. Gambhir also confirmed that Rahul will not have to keep wickets for LSG to ensure he has less pressure and is&nbsp;relaxed as captain.

"Ultimately, it is the leader who is the flag-bearer of a team and so it's Rahul who will lead Lucknow Super Giants on and off the field. For me, it is important to have KL Rahul the batter, who is also the captain of the team rather than KL Rahul, the captain, who also bats. I hope I am able to make you understand the difference,” Gambhir said in a&nbsp;conversation with PTI.

"Any captain should learn to take risks. I would want Rahul to take risks and unless you take calculated risks, you won't know if you would succeed or not. Also this time, Quinton de Kock will be our wicketkeeper, so with no keeping duties, he can be free and relaxed, concentrating on his batting and leadership,” he explained.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-one-of-the-greatest-physios-in-the-world-gets-everyone-fit-before-auction-ravi-shastri-464769">IPL one of the greatest physios in the world, gets everyone fit before auction: Ravi Shastri</a>

Gambhir also issued a warning to Rahul in regards to his India captaincy aspirations. The stylish right-hander is currently the vice-captain of the Indian team across formats and is seen as one of the future leaders of the Indian team. He has also captained the Indian team in a few matches in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma.

When asked if there will be additional pressure on Rahul to prove his captaincy credentials in the IPL keeping the India job in mind, Gambhir said no one should play in the IPL looking at the national team. The Lucknow Super Giants mentor believes IPl performances will not guarantee India captaincy for Rahul.

"Know one thing. There is a difference between being talked up as a future India captain and ultimately being appointed India captain. I have never believed that you should play IPL looking at the national team. IPL is a platform to express one's self. One can grow as a leader but there are no guarantees that there is a time period that IPL will help you become India captain," said Gambhir.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/despite-bccis-intervention-moeen-ali-stranded-in-uk-due-to-visay-delay-likely-to-miss-csks-opener-vs-kkr-464759">Despite BCCI's intervention Moeen Ali stranded in UK due to visa delay, likely to miss CSK's opener vs KKR</a>

Lucknow Super Giants have managed to assemble a brilliant squad for their debut season in the IPL this year. Their squad features the likes of Rahul, De Kock, Manish Pandey, Avesh Khan, Jason Holder and Krunal Pandya among others who can all be game-changers on their day.

Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2022 campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Titans on Monday (March 28). 
&nbsp;

KL Rahul is all set to embark on a new journey in his Indian Premier League (IPL) career as he will lead debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming season.

KL Rahul is all set to embark on a new journey in his Indian Premier League (IPL) career as he will lead debutants Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming season. Rahul captained Punjab Kings for two seasons and was also their leading run-getter in both the editions before deciding to leave the franchise to join Lucknow Super Giants this year. At Punjab Kings, the expectations were high from Rahul when he was appointed as the leader of the side ahead of IPL 2020. However, he failed to impress as a captain as Punjab failed to make it to the playoffs in two seasons under his leadership. The imbalance in Punjab's squad and an inconsistent middle-order were seen as two of the major reasons behind the team's struggles under Rahul. As an opener, Rahul would lead from the front and score heap of runs for his franchise but the lack of support in the middle-order often hampered his strike rate and aggressive instincts while batting. Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who will be the mentor of the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022, wants Rahul to not repeat the mistakes from his time at Punjab Kings. Gambhir said he would like Rahul the batter to take charge and take calculated risks in order to improve his and his team's performances on the pitch. Gambhir also confirmed that Rahul will not have to keep wickets for LSG to ensure he has less pressure and is relaxed as captain. "Ultimately, it is the leader who is the flag-bearer of a team and so it's Rahul who will lead Lucknow Super Giants on and off the field. For me, it is important to have KL Rahul the batter, who is also the captain of the team rather than KL Rahul, the captain, who also bats. I hope I am able to make you understand the difference,” Gambhir said in a conversation with PTI. "Any captain should learn to take risks. I would want Rahul to take risks and unless you take calculated risks, you won't know if you would succeed or not. Also this time, Quinton de Kock will be our wicketkeeper, so with no keeping duties, he can be free and relaxed, concentrating on his batting and leadership,” he explained. Also Read: IPL one of the greatest physios in the world, gets everyone fit before auction: Ravi Shastri Gambhir also issued a warning to Rahul in regards to his India captaincy aspirations. The stylish right-hander is currently the vice-captain of the Indian team across formats and is seen as one of the future leaders of the Indian team. He has also captained the Indian team in a few matches in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma. When asked if there will be additional pressure on Rahul to prove his captaincy credentials in the IPL keeping the India job in mind, Gambhir said no one should play in the IPL looking at the national team. The Lucknow Super Giants mentor believes IPl performances will not guarantee India captaincy for Rahul. "Know one thing. There is a difference between being talked up as a future India captain and ultimately being appointed India captain. I have never believed that you should play IPL looking at the national team. IPL is a platform to express one's self. One can grow as a leader but there are no guarantees that there is a time period that IPL will help you become India captain," said Gambhir. Also Read: Despite BCCI's intervention Moeen Ali stranded in UK due to visa delay, likely to miss CSK's opener vs KKR Lucknow Super Giants have managed to assemble a brilliant squad for their debut season in the IPL this year. Their squad features the likes of Rahul, De Kock, Manish Pandey, Avesh Khan, Jason Holder and Krunal Pandya among others who can all be game-changers on their day. Lucknow Super Giants will open their IPL 2022 campaign against fellow debutants Gujarat Titans on Monday (March 28).

Gautam Gambhir issues warning to KL Rahul: No guarantee that IPL will help you become India captain

The IPL 2022 edition is set to commence on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Two new teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) will look to challenge the eight old franchises for the coveted title.

Ahead of the commencement of the forthcoming season, there is a lot of excitement on some of the newly-formed pairs in all teams. Among them, all eyes are on how Krunal Pandya-Deepak Hooda form a lethal all-round pair for the Lucknow franchise, keeping their differences aside. For the unversed, Hooda and Krunal were involved in a huge controversy during their time at the Baroda team. Back then,&nbsp;Hooda&nbsp;had accused his state captain Krunal of bullying him. Later, he decided to part ways and&nbsp;quit the team.

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Dwelling on their equation, Lucknow's mentor and former IPL-winning captain Gautam Gambhir told PTI, "Look, you don't have to be best friends off the field to perform on it. They are professionals and they know that they have a job to do. You don't have to go out for dinner every night if you are playing in the same team."

“I have not been friends with everyone in every team that I have played in. But that hasn't stopped me from giving my best when I am out there on the field. These are matured people and they know there are here to win matches for Lucknow," Gambhir added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/moeen-ali-likely-to-miss-ipl-2022-opener-3-csk-players-who-can-replace-england-all-rounder-against-kkr-464849">Moeen Ali likely to miss IPL 2022 opener: 3 CSK players who can replace England all-rounder against KKR</a>

Talking about the Lucknow team, they have plenty of match-winners such as captain KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi, Jason Holder, Manish Pandey, Krunal, Deepak, etc. and will like to go the distance in their first-ever IPL season. They will open their campaign versus the other debutant, Hardik Pandya-led GT franchise&nbsp;on March 28 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

The IPL 2022 edition is set to commence on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Two new teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) will look to challenge the eight old franchises for the coveted title.

The IPL 2022 edition is set to commence on March 26 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Two new teams in the form of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) will look to challenge the eight old franchises for the coveted title. Ahead of the commencement of the forthcoming season, there is a lot of excitement on some of the newly-formed pairs in all teams. Among them, all eyes are on how Krunal Pandya-Deepak Hooda form a lethal all-round pair for the Lucknow franchise, keeping their differences aside. For the unversed, Hooda and Krunal were involved in a huge controversy during their time at the Baroda team. Back then, Hooda had accused his state captain Krunal of bullying him. Later, he decided to part ways and quit the team. ALSO READ | IPL revenue to cross INR 10-billion mark for first time ever, confirms BCCI Secretary Jay Shah Dwelling on their equation, Lucknow's mentor and former IPL-winning captain Gautam Gambhir told PTI, "Look, you don't have to be best friends off the field to perform on it. They are professionals and they know that they have a job to do. You don't have to go out for dinner every night if you are playing in the same team." “I have not been friends with everyone in every team that I have played in. But that hasn't stopped me from giving my best when I am out there on the field. These are matured people and they know there are here to win matches for Lucknow," Gambhir added. ALSO READ | Moeen Ali likely to miss IPL 2022 opener: 3 CSK players who can replace England all-rounder against KKR Talking about the Lucknow team, they have plenty of match-winners such as captain KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi, Jason Holder, Manish Pandey, Krunal, Deepak, etc. and will like to go the distance in their first-ever IPL season. They will open their campaign versus the other debutant, Hardik Pandya-led GT franchise on March 28 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

'I've not been friends with everyone...': Lucknow mentor Gambhir on Krunal Pandya- Deepak Hooda's equation

From KL Rahul to Ruturaj Gaikwad: Top five contenders for Orange Cap in IPL 2022

The&nbsp;struggle is real for slots in the Indian senior men's cricket team. When India left for the United Kingdom, in early 2021, for the WTC final and the five-match Test series versus England, Shubman Gill was the first-choice opening partner of Rohit Sharma.

The duo managed to give decent starts to&nbsp;India&nbsp;in the WTC final before an injury ruled Gill out of action ahead of the five Tests versus Joe Root-led England. Thus, KL Rahul replaced him and made the most of the opportunities&nbsp;against the English side. While Gill returned back to competitive cricket with the second and final leg of IPL 2021 and also featured in the home Tests versus New Zealand, the 22-year-old had to once again miss out on appearing in the India-South Africa Tests, in the African nation, after the same injury reoccurred. In a freewheeling chat with Sports Tak, Gill opened up on the&nbsp;frustrating injury that has sidelined him in India's Test team.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-virat-kohli-or-kl-rahul-rcbs-dinesh-karthik-picks-player-to-watch-out-for-in-ipl-2022-464521">Not Virat Kohli or KL Rahul! RCB's Dinesh Karthik picks 'player to watch out for' in IPL 2022</a>

"I have come out of it entirely now. It endured a stress fracture on my shin when we playing the World Test Championship final in England. About 2-3 days later, when the match ended, that night, I was in a lot of pain with my shin. I was in pain for almost 7-8 hours. I had no issues with my shin. I had never faced any problem with it whatsoever. It was quite shocking for me… to be in pain for 7-8 hours in the night. When I told the physio next day, they got an MRI done and that is where I found out that there’s a fracture in the shin," Gill told Sports Tak in an interview.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/when-ms-dhoni-asks-you-to-do-something-consider-it-done-says-shivam-dube-ahead-of-ipl-2022-opener-464586">When MS Dhoni asks you to do something, consider it done, says Shivam Dube ahead of IPL 2022 opener</a>

"After that we went for the IPL and there weren't too many fitness Tests so when we were playing Tests against New Zealand (in November-December last year), it reoccurred. In the first innings, there was quite a load while fielding because for a long time, there wasn't a Test match where we had to field for close to 130-140 overs, fielded almost for 2 days. Due to that, it began paining again. After that, the physios decided that until and unless it completely heals, I won’t try to make a comeback. Else it will keep happening. I spent 2 months at the NCA and I am now completely pain free," added Gill.

Having gone through some tough times in the recent past, Gill will now like to showcase his T20 credentials in the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, where he will represent the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT). If he has a good season, the right-hander will become a contender in featuring back into the Indian team and can also&nbsp;make&nbsp;a case for selection for the T20 World Cup.&nbsp;

The struggle is real for slots in the Indian senior men's cricket team. When India left for the United Kingdom, in early 2021, for the WTC final and the five-match Test series versus England, Shubman Gill was the first-choice opening partner of Rohit Sharma.

The struggle is real for slots in the Indian senior men's cricket team. When India left for the United Kingdom, in early 2021, for the WTC final and the five-match Test series versus England, Shubman Gill was the first-choice opening partner of Rohit Sharma. The duo managed to give decent starts to India in the WTC final before an injury ruled Gill out of action ahead of the five Tests versus Joe Root-led England. Thus, KL Rahul replaced him and made the most of the opportunities against the English side. While Gill returned back to competitive cricket with the second and final leg of IPL 2021 and also featured in the home Tests versus New Zealand, the 22-year-old had to once again miss out on appearing in the India-South Africa Tests, in the African nation, after the same injury reoccurred. In a freewheeling chat with Sports Tak, Gill opened up on the frustrating injury that has sidelined him in India's Test team. ALSO READ | Not Virat Kohli or KL Rahul! RCB's Dinesh Karthik picks 'player to watch out for' in IPL 2022 "I have come out of it entirely now. It endured a stress fracture on my shin when we playing the World Test Championship final in England. About 2-3 days later, when the match ended, that night, I was in a lot of pain with my shin. I was in pain for almost 7-8 hours. I had no issues with my shin. I had never faced any problem with it whatsoever. It was quite shocking for me… to be in pain for 7-8 hours in the night. When I told the physio next day, they got an MRI done and that is where I found out that there’s a fracture in the shin," Gill told Sports Tak in an interview. ALSO READ | When MS Dhoni asks you to do something, consider it done, says Shivam Dube ahead of IPL 2022 opener "After that we went for the IPL and there weren't too many fitness Tests so when we were playing Tests against New Zealand (in November-December last year), it reoccurred. In the first innings, there was quite a load while fielding because for a long time, there wasn't a Test match where we had to field for close to 130-140 overs, fielded almost for 2 days. Due to that, it began paining again. After that, the physios decided that until and unless it completely heals, I won’t try to make a comeback. Else it will keep happening. I spent 2 months at the NCA and I am now completely pain free," added Gill. Having gone through some tough times in the recent past, Gill will now like to showcase his T20 credentials in the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition, where he will represent the Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat Titans (GT). If he has a good season, the right-hander will become a contender in featuring back into the Indian team and can also make a case for selection for the T20 World Cup.

It was quite shocking for me: India's youngster recalls his frustrating injury before England Tests

The excitement for IPL 2022 is on another level as the upcoming season's commencement is just a few days away. This year's edition is keenly awaited as the ardent IPL fans want to see how the two new teams perform and what they bring to the table whereas many are making predictions on which youngster will make a mark, which side will have the last laugh, etc.

Amid all this, Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik joined the bandwagon and made a bold claim regarding which player he feels will be the 'one to watch out for' in IPL 2022, set to get underway on March 26 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

"Definitely David Warner (when being asked about the player to watch out for). And I say that because he's someone who has shown greatness in IPL over a period of time, [he has won] three Orange Caps. Obviously, last year didn't go according to plan but I am sure he'll have a point to prove. He's gone back to a franchise that he's played for before. Interestingly, I've played with him in that franchise, terrific cricketer, and I am pretty sure he'll have a very, very good season," Karthik said in a chat with Cricbuzz.

Many other marquee cricketers such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, etc. will also like to make a mark in the forthcoming season.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/from-chris-gayle-virat-kohli-to-ab-de-villiers-superstar-batters-with-most-ipl-hundreds-463535">From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds</a>

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On the other hand, DK also predicted who will be the most valuable overseas player in IPL 2022. In this regard, he picked New Zealand's Devon Conway, his RCB captain Faf du Plessis' replacement in the CSK camp, to do wonders for the MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army.

"Devon Conway (overseas MVP). He's a new import, he's going to make his debut for CSK. Terrific player. He's had a brilliant couple of seasons for New Zealand, did very well even in the World Cup under pressure even though he batted in the middle-order which is not something he does [often]. I have a feeling he's a very strong player and will go very very well for CSK," opined Karthik.
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The excitement for IPL 2022 is on another level as the upcoming season's commencement is just a few days away. This year's edition is keenly awaited as the ardent IPL fans want to see how the two new teams perform and what they bring to the table whereas many are making predictions on which youngster will make a mark, which side will have the last laugh, etc.

The excitement for IPL 2022 is on another level as the upcoming season's commencement is just a few days away. This year's edition is keenly awaited as the ardent IPL fans want to see how the two new teams perform and what they bring to the table whereas many are making predictions on which youngster will make a mark, which side will have the last laugh, etc. Amid all this, Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik joined the bandwagon and made a bold claim regarding which player he feels will be the 'one to watch out for' in IPL 2022, set to get underway on March 26 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. "Definitely David Warner (when being asked about the player to watch out for). And I say that because he's someone who has shown greatness in IPL over a period of time, [he has won] three Orange Caps. Obviously, last year didn't go according to plan but I am sure he'll have a point to prove. He's gone back to a franchise that he's played for before. Interestingly, I've played with him in that franchise, terrific cricketer, and I am pretty sure he'll have a very, very good season," Karthik said in a chat with Cricbuzz. Many other marquee cricketers such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Quinton de Kock, Jonny Bairstow, etc. will also like to make a mark in the forthcoming season. ALSO READ | From Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli to AB de Villiers - Superstar batters with most IPL hundreds On the other hand, DK also predicted who will be the most valuable overseas player in IPL 2022. In this regard, he picked New Zealand's Devon Conway, his RCB captain Faf du Plessis' replacement in the CSK camp, to do wonders for the MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army. "Devon Conway (overseas MVP). He's a new import, he's going to make his debut for CSK. Terrific player. He's had a brilliant couple of seasons for New Zealand, did very well even in the World Cup under pressure even though he batted in the middle-order which is not something he does [often]. I have a feeling he's a very strong player and will go very very well for CSK," opined Karthik.

Not Virat Kohli or KL Rahul! RCB's Dinesh Karthik picks 'player to watch out for' in IPL 2022

KL Rahul, who will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, said that the last few months have been quite difficult as he was restricted in the bio bubble but he also believes that the bubble life has brought the team together in a very short time.<o:p></o:p>

"I think the bubbles have brought the team together. We`ve gotten to know each other a lot better. We end up spending a lot of time with each other," said KL Rahul on Red Bull Cricket on Clubhouse.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/stephen-fleming-explains-reason-behind-chennai-super-kings-camp-in-surat-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464371" hreflang="en">Fleming explains reason behind CSK camp in Surat ahead of IPL 2022</a>

Rahul was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2022 auctions. He was picked by the Lucknow side before the auctions and he will be opening the batting for his franchise this season.<o:p></o:p>

"I think the last series and the West Indies series at home really got to me. It became very difficult for me to keep myself motivated. The first few bubbles I did manage. Because I kept asking myself, ‘Where else can I be? What else can I do?’ Nothing. Cricket is the only thing I am good at and this is the thing I have chosen, so I owe it to myself," Rahul said about his experience in the bio bubble.

<o:p>Also read |&nbsp;</o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/it-was-a-tough-call-kl-rahul-explains-why-he-decided-to-leave-punjab-kings-ahead-of-ipl-2022-464307" hreflang="en">KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022</a>

"I kept pushing myself that way. But the last couple of months were very difficult. Shreyas and I were chatting about how it`s getting more difficult especially when your families can`t come and be with you. You need your family, your friends to just feel normal. We stopped feeling normal. We had to sleep, wake up, and go to the ground. It just became a routine. It started getting very difficult."<o:p></o:p>

The bio bubble has already caused a lot of fatigue among different players and ahead of the IPL 2022, Jason Roy and Alex Hales both decided to skip the tournament citing personal reasons.<o:p></o:p>

KL Rahul, who will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, said that the last few months have been quite difficult as he was restricted in the bio bubble but he also believes that the bubble life has brought the team together in a very short time.

KL Rahul, who will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season, said that the last few months have been quite difficult as he was restricted in the bio bubble but he also believes that the bubble life has brought the team together in a very short time. "I think the bubbles have brought the team together. We`ve gotten to know each other a lot better. We end up spending a lot of time with each other," said KL Rahul on Red Bull Cricket on Clubhouse. Also read | Fleming explains reason behind CSK camp in Surat ahead of IPL 2022 Rahul was released by Punjab Kings ahead of the IPL 2022 auctions. He was picked by the Lucknow side before the auctions and he will be opening the batting for his franchise this season. "I think the last series and the West Indies series at home really got to me. It became very difficult for me to keep myself motivated. The first few bubbles I did manage. Because I kept asking myself, ‘Where else can I be? What else can I do?’ Nothing. Cricket is the only thing I am good at and this is the thing I have chosen, so I owe it to myself," Rahul said about his experience in the bio bubble. Also read | KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022 "I kept pushing myself that way. But the last couple of months were very difficult. Shreyas and I were chatting about how it`s getting more difficult especially when your families can`t come and be with you. You need your family, your friends to just feel normal. We stopped feeling normal. We had to sleep, wake up, and go to the ground. It just became a routine. It started getting very difficult." The bio bubble has already caused a lot of fatigue among different players and ahead of the IPL 2022, Jason Roy and Alex Hales both decided to skip the tournament citing personal reasons.

KL Rahul points out positive side of bio bubble ahead of IPL 2022

Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain.

While he didn't tase success as captain, Rahul was Punjab's best batter since joining the side in 2018. He notched up an impressive 2548 runs in 55 games in four seasons from 2018 to 2021 at an average of over 54 and was always among the runs for his former side.

Rahul was roped in by Lucknow Super Giants in the players'&nbsp;draft ahead of the mega auction for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million), making him the joint highest-paid player alongside Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli. Rahul will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in their debut season in the IPL this year.

Rahul recently opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings and said it was a 'tough call' but he wanted to embark on a new journey and see what was in store for him. &nbsp;

“I have been with them for four years and I’ve had a great run with them. Just wanted to see what’s in store for me and if there’s a new journey for me. It was a tough call obviously. I have been attached to Punjab for a long time. I wanted to see if I can do something else," Rahul said speaking to Red Bull Cricket.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-is-a-fantastic-talent-irfan-pathan-picks-deepak-chahars-replacement-for-ms-dhonis-csk-in-ipl-2022-464295">'He is a fantastic talent': Irfan Pathan picks Deepak Chahar's replacement for Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022</a>

Rahul was Punjab Kings' highest run-getter and the third-highest run-getter overall in IPL 2021 last year with 626 runs in 13 matches at a stunning average of over 62. In 2020, he had finished as the highest run-getter in the league with 670 runs from 14 games and won the Orange Cap.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/not-kohli-or-rohit-shreyas-iyer-picks-kl-rahul-as-his-favourite-captain-explains-why-464258">Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain, explains why</a>

After Rahul's departure from the side, Punjab Kings have named Mayank Agarwal as their new captain ahead of IPL 2022. Punjab have also roped in a number of big names in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow among others as they hunt for their maiden IPL title this year.

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Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain.

Team India star KL Rahul has opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the new season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022. Rahul left Punjab Kings in search of new opportunities ahead of IPL 2022 after failing to lead the side to playoffs in two consecutive seasons as captain. While he didn't tase success as captain, Rahul was Punjab's best batter since joining the side in 2018. He notched up an impressive 2548 runs in 55 games in four seasons from 2018 to 2021 at an average of over 54 and was always among the runs for his former side. Rahul was roped in by Lucknow Super Giants in the players' draft ahead of the mega auction for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million), making him the joint highest-paid player alongside Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli. Rahul will be leading Lucknow Super Giants in their debut season in the IPL this year. Rahul recently opened up on his decision to leave Punjab Kings and said it was a 'tough call' but he wanted to embark on a new journey and see what was in store for him. “I have been with them for four years and I’ve had a great run with them. Just wanted to see what’s in store for me and if there’s a new journey for me. It was a tough call obviously. I have been attached to Punjab for a long time. I wanted to see if I can do something else," Rahul said speaking to Red Bull Cricket. Also Read: 'He is a fantastic talent': Irfan Pathan picks Deepak Chahar's replacement for Dhoni's CSK in IPL 2022 Rahul was Punjab Kings' highest run-getter and the third-highest run-getter overall in IPL 2021 last year with 626 runs in 13 matches at a stunning average of over 62. In 2020, he had finished as the highest run-getter in the league with 670 runs from 14 games and won the Orange Cap. Also Read: Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain, explains why After Rahul's departure from the side, Punjab Kings have named Mayank Agarwal as their new captain ahead of IPL 2022. Punjab have also roped in a number of big names in the form of Kagiso Rabada, Liam Livingstone, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow among others as they hunt for their maiden IPL title this year.

'It was a tough call': KL Rahul explains why he decided to leave Punjab Kings ahead of IPL 2022

Team India star Shreyas Iyer recently picked KL Rahul as his favourite captain and explained the reason behind the same. Iyer, who has become an integral member of the Indian team across formats with his impressive performances recently, is himself seen as one of the potential leaders of the Indian team going forward.

Iyer has already proved the mettle of his captaincy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) having led his former side Delhi Capitals to their maiden final in the 2020 season. Iyer, who left DC ahead of IPL 2022, has been roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their new captain ahead of the upcoming season.

Iyer, who played under Rahul's captaincy for the Indian team during the ODI series against South Africa last year, said the star batter is an outstanding player and has a calm demeanour as a leader. Iyer said Rahul was the first captain to give him a chance to bowl for India which no other captain had done before which is why he was his favourite.

“It was nice to play under him. Firstly, he is an outstanding player. The confidence he carries on the field and in the team meetings, the support that he provides to the players is great," Iyer said while speaking on the Red Bull clubhouse.

"He’s got a very calm demeanour and his on-field decision making is very instinctive. I really enjoyed playing under him. Also, he gave me three overs of bowling, which none of the captains previously had done. So yeah, he’s my favourite captain," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction - WATCH">Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Rahul had led the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma during the ODI series against South Africa. However, India failed to win even a single game in the three-match series under Rahul's captaincy in what was a disappointing outing for the Men in Blue against the Proteas.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/t-natarajan-breaks-a-stump-into-two-as-sunrisers-hyderabad-pacer-breathes-fire-ahead-of-ipl-2022-watch-464044">&nbsp;T Natarajan breaks a stump into two as Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer breathes fire ahead of IPL 2022&nbsp;</a>

Nonetheless, Iyer, who has played under the likes of Virat Kohli and current skipper Rohit, decided to pick Rahul as his favourite captain among all. While Iyer will be leading his new side KKR in IPL 2022 this year, Rahul will also be leading his new team Lucknow Super Giants after being roped in for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million) at the mega auction last month.

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Team India star Shreyas Iyer recently picked KL Rahul as his favourite captain and explained the reason behind the same. Iyer, who has become an integral member of the Indian team across formats with his impressive performances recently, is himself seen as one of the potential leaders of the Indian team going forward.

Team India star Shreyas Iyer recently picked KL Rahul as his favourite captain and explained the reason behind the same. Iyer, who has become an integral member of the Indian team across formats with his impressive performances recently, is himself seen as one of the potential leaders of the Indian team going forward. Iyer has already proved the mettle of his captaincy in the Indian Premier League (IPL) having led his former side Delhi Capitals to their maiden final in the 2020 season. Iyer, who left DC ahead of IPL 2022, has been roped in by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as their new captain ahead of the upcoming season. Iyer, who played under Rahul's captaincy for the Indian team during the ODI series against South Africa last year, said the star batter is an outstanding player and has a calm demeanour as a leader. Iyer said Rahul was the first captain to give him a chance to bowl for India which no other captain had done before which is why he was his favourite. “It was nice to play under him. Firstly, he is an outstanding player. The confidence he carries on the field and in the team meetings, the support that he provides to the players is great," Iyer said while speaking on the Red Bull clubhouse. "He’s got a very calm demeanour and his on-field decision making is very instinctive. I really enjoyed playing under him. Also, he gave me three overs of bowling, which none of the captains previously had done. So yeah, he’s my favourite captain," he added. Also Read: Stephen Fleming names three overseas stars who CSK got for cheap at IPL 2022 mega auction Rahul had led the Indian team in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma during the ODI series against South Africa. However, India failed to win even a single game in the three-match series under Rahul's captaincy in what was a disappointing outing for the Men in Blue against the Proteas. Also Read: T Natarajan breaks a stump into two as Sunrisers Hyderabad pacer breathes fire ahead of IPL 2022 Nonetheless, Iyer, who has played under the likes of Virat Kohli and current skipper Rohit, decided to pick Rahul as his favourite captain among all. While Iyer will be leading his new side KKR in IPL 2022 this year, Rahul will also be leading his new team Lucknow Super Giants after being roped in for a whopping Rs 17 crore (INR 170 million) at the mega auction last month.

Not Kohli or Rohit! Shreyas Iyer picks KL Rahul as his 'favourite' captain, explains why

From top earners to players with big pay cuts: BCCI's new central contracts list for 2021-22

It wasn't quite a smooth transition in Indian cricket when Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri-era came to an end, slowly making&nbsp;way for the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid's alliance. When Kohli resigned as the T20I captain and Rohit was named his successor, the Indian cricket fans were in for a rollercoaster ride as many changed followed suit.&nbsp;

In late 2021, BCCI removed Kohli as the ODI captain, making Rohit the&nbsp;white-ball skipper. While it opened a pandora of box -- with the Kohli vs BCCI row gaining much limelight -- the dust seems to have settled down on the&nbsp;communication mishap between BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly-selection committee and the former captain. The changes in the leadership group, however, continued&nbsp;as Kohli also resigned as the Test captain in mid-January 2022.&nbsp;

At present, Rohit has&nbsp;become&nbsp;the all-format skipper with Dravid being in his shadow as the head coach. Amid the unnecessary chaos and negativity, India have been on a roll at home with a forgettable&nbsp;South Africa tour the only blip in between. However, things are now slowly starting to shape up and falling into places within the national team.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/he-would-give-me-important-overs-jasprit-bumrah-reveals-how-rohit-sharma-helped-in-his-growth-456807">He would give me important overs: Jasprit Bumrah reveals how Rohit Sharma helped in his growth</a>

After their SA annihilation, Team India has been on a roll -- although in home conditions. Rohit-led India whitewashed West Indies in the home white-ball series and the hosts have already gained an unassailable lead in the ongoing three T20Is versus Sri Lanka.&nbsp;

With the SL series also in their grasp, Rohit-Dravid is yet to lose an international game as&nbsp;captain-coach. In fact, India are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten streak in the shortest format&nbsp;(11).&nbsp;

Thus, what is the duo doing right despite much chaos in their brief partnership? (If&nbsp;the BCCI vs Kohli row is now on the backburner, out-of-favour Wriddiman Saha's revelations on his communication with Dravid, Ganguly, etc. have also made a lot of noise)&nbsp;

Role clarity, focus on flexibility and plugging small holes

In the recent past, Rohit-Dravid have spoken a lot on giving bio-bubble breaks to the players (currently enjoyed by&nbsp;Kohli, Md Shami, Rishabh Pant),&nbsp;role clarity and redeveloping a proper communication process&nbsp;(It is to be noted that despite the success enjoyed by Shastri-Kohli, their partnership highlighted communication gap between players and team management on several occasions:&nbsp;during M Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane's respective omissions, etc.).&nbsp;

Backing even a non-regular like Sanju Samson

Ahead of the SL T20Is, captain Rohit talked about being the team's plans of being flexible by relentlessly backing even their non-regular players&nbsp;ahead of&nbsp;the 2022 T20 World Cup. Rohit opined on Sanju Samson and told the reporters, "That guy has got talent, man. Whenever I have seen him bat in IPL and all of that, he has just produced an innings where everyone goes over the moon watching it. So he has got the skill set to succeed. That is the whole point about the sport. A lot of people have skill set, lot of people have talent but how you utilise them is the most critical par."

"His back-foot play is superb, some of the shots you must have seen during the IPL, the pick-up pull, the cut shots, standing and delivering over bowler’s head. Those kinds of shots are not easy to play and I believe when we go to Australia, you need those kind of shot-making ability and Samson does has it in him. I just hope that he utilises his potential to the maximum,” added Rohit.

(Sanju repaid the faith with a blistering 25-ball 39 in the second and penultimate encounter versus the Islanders).

Dropped but no way out of reckoning...

With Shreyas Iyer not making it to the playing XI in India's 1st T20I versus West Indies, Rohit made it clear that the batter remains a vital cog in the setup. "Someone like Shreyas Iyer&nbsp;is sitting out, very hard on him not making it to playing eleven, but we needed someone to bowl in the middle which is why we couldn't get him in. It's always nice with that kind of competition going around and a lot of the guys are missing out as well. I'm happy to have that kind of challenges rather than not having players available and not in form," he had told at the post-match presentation.

(Iyer is in rollicking form&nbsp;with two electrifying half-centuries&nbsp;in the SL T20Is).

Dravid on Saha's omission&nbsp;

Dravid welcomed the big question on Saha's Test omission -- without losing his cool&nbsp;-- and told the reporters after the WI T20Is, "I’m actually not hurt at all, because I have deep respect for Wridhhiman Saha and his achievements, his contribution to Indian cricket. My conversation with him actually came from that place. I think he deserved honesty and he deserved clarity. These are conversations I constantly have with players. I don’t expect players to always like messages or to agree with everything that I have to say about them. That’s not how it works."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/theyre-taking-team-india-in-a-fabulous-direction-dinesh-karthik-lauds-rahul-dravid-rohit-sharma-456046">They're taking Team India in a fabulous direction: Dinesh Karthik lauds Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma</a>

Thus, the team is now slowly plugging the gaps which were previously present in the Indian team, under Kohli-Shastri.&nbsp;

Highlighting the same, Dinesh Karthik recently&nbsp;told the ICC, "The new captain and there's a new coach, I think they are taking the team in a fabulous direction. They've plugged small holes, which were probably there previously, and that has been the beautiful part about it. And along the way, in the journey, they've managed to become No.1."

Time and again, Rohit-Dravid have not shied away from stressing that&nbsp;they are preparing the team for the 2022 T20 WC, albeit with some tinkering in team combination and roles&nbsp;(In the previous captain-coach pairing,&nbsp;one eye was on the future but never openly declared in public; showcasing a rather confused mindset).

The current Indian team is slowly picking the lying pieces and moving ahead. The Men in Blue are trying to experiment with their template (which resulted in their first-round exit in the 2021 T20 WC), trying to balance out between youth and experienced campaigners,&nbsp;identifying new leaders, tinkering roles of different individuals to not increase their options but&nbsp;to broaden the horizons of the resources available.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/they-were-standing-there-for-me-ishan-kishan-credits-rohit-dravid-for-backing-him-despite-poor-form-456502">They were standing there for me: Ishan Kishan credits Rohit, Dravid for backing him despite poor form</a>

After the WI home series, coach Dravid confirmed that the team management 'don't want to cast their net too wide'; to avoid confusion and irregularity in team selection.&nbsp;"There is no set time frame to freeze on a team. We don’t want to cast our net too wide but we also don’t want to just restrict ourselves to 15 players. By the time we get to the [T20] World Cup, we need to have a bunch of guys who have at least played 10-20 games," the former captain stated.

Surely, Dravid-Rohit pairing is off to a flier. The real test is still miles away but they are not backing out from&nbsp;acknowledging&nbsp;the past mistakes and are boldly&nbsp;setting up new ways going forward.&nbsp;Sit back and relax guys...The road will clearly have more hurdles and speed-breakers but the Rohit-Dravid&nbsp;looks more suited to handle it all with a pragmatic and practical approach.

It wasn't quite a smooth transition in Indian cricket when Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri-era came to an end, slowly making way for the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid's alliance.

It wasn't quite a smooth transition in Indian cricket when Virat Kohli-Ravi Shastri-era came to an end, slowly making way for the Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid's alliance. When Kohli resigned as the T20I captain and Rohit was named his successor, the Indian cricket fans were in for a rollercoaster ride as many changed followed suit. In late 2021, BCCI removed Kohli as the ODI captain, making Rohit the white-ball skipper. While it opened a pandora of box -- with the Kohli vs BCCI row gaining much limelight -- the dust seems to have settled down on the communication mishap between BCCI chief Sourav Ganguly-selection committee and the former captain. The changes in the leadership group, however, continued as Kohli also resigned as the Test captain in mid-January 2022. At present, Rohit has become the all-format skipper with Dravid being in his shadow as the head coach. Amid the unnecessary chaos and negativity, India have been on a roll at home with a forgettable South Africa tour the only blip in between. However, things are now slowly starting to shape up and falling into places within the national team. ALSO READ | He would give me important overs: Jasprit Bumrah reveals how Rohit Sharma helped in his growth After their SA annihilation, Team India has been on a roll -- although in home conditions. Rohit-led India whitewashed West Indies in the home white-ball series and the hosts have already gained an unassailable lead in the ongoing three T20Is versus Sri Lanka. With the SL series also in their grasp, Rohit-Dravid is yet to lose an international game as captain-coach. In fact, India are currently enjoying their longest unbeaten streak in the shortest format (11). Thus, what is the duo doing right despite much chaos in their brief partnership? (If the BCCI vs Kohli row is now on the backburner, out-of-favour Wriddiman Saha's revelations on his communication with Dravid, Ganguly, etc. have also made a lot of noise) Role clarity, focus on flexibility and plugging small holes In the recent past, Rohit-Dravid have spoken a lot on giving bio-bubble breaks to the players (currently enjoyed by Kohli, Md Shami, Rishabh Pant), role clarity and redeveloping a proper communication process (It is to be noted that despite the success enjoyed by Shastri-Kohli, their partnership highlighted communication gap between players and team management on several occasions: during M Vijay, Ambati Rayudu, Ajinkya Rahane's respective omissions, etc.). Backing even a non-regular like Sanju Samson Ahead of the SL T20Is, captain Rohit talked about being the team's plans of being flexible by relentlessly backing even their non-regular players ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup. Rohit opined on Sanju Samson and told the reporters, "That guy has got talent, man. Whenever I have seen him bat in IPL and all of that, he has just produced an innings where everyone goes over the moon watching it. So he has got the skill set to succeed. That is the whole point about the sport. A lot of people have skill set, lot of people have talent but how you utilise them is the most critical par." "His back-foot play is superb, some of the shots you must have seen during the IPL, the pick-up pull, the cut shots, standing and delivering over bowler’s head. Those kinds of shots are not easy to play and I believe when we go to Australia, you need those kind of shot-making ability and Samson does has it in him. I just hope that he utilises his potential to the maximum,” added Rohit. (Sanju repaid the faith with a blistering 25-ball 39 in the second and penultimate encounter versus the Islanders). Dropped but no way out of reckoning... With Shreyas Iyer not making it to the playing XI in India's 1st T20I versus West Indies, Rohit made it clear that the batter remains a vital cog in the setup. "Someone like Shreyas Iyer is sitting out, very hard on him not making it to playing eleven, but we needed someone to bowl in the middle which is why we couldn't get him in. It's always nice with that kind of competition going around and a lot of the guys are missing out as well. I'm happy to have that kind of challenges rather than not having players available and not in form," he had told at the post-match presentation. (Iyer is in rollicking form with two electrifying half-centuries in the SL T20Is). Dravid on Saha's omission Dravid welcomed the big question on Saha's Test omission -- without losing his cool -- and told the reporters after the WI T20Is, "I’m actually not hurt at all, because I have deep respect for Wridhhiman Saha and his achievements, his contribution to Indian cricket. My conversation with him actually came from that place. I think he deserved honesty and he deserved clarity. These are conversations I constantly have with players. I don’t expect players to always like messages or to agree with everything that I have to say about them. That’s not how it works." ALSO READ | They're taking Team India in a fabulous direction: Dinesh Karthik lauds Rahul Dravid-Rohit Sharma Thus, the team is now slowly plugging the gaps which were previously present in the Indian team, under Kohli-Shastri. Highlighting the same, Dinesh Karthik recently told the ICC, "The new captain and there's a new coach, I think they are taking the team in a fabulous direction. They've plugged small holes, which were probably there previously, and that has been the beautiful part about it. And along the way, in the journey, they've managed to become No.1." Time and again, Rohit-Dravid have not shied away from stressing that they are preparing the team for the 2022 T20 WC, albeit with some tinkering in team combination and roles (In the previous captain-coach pairing, one eye was on the future but never openly declared in public; showcasing a rather confused mindset). The current Indian team is slowly picking the lying pieces and moving ahead. The Men in Blue are trying to experiment with their template (which resulted in their first-round exit in the 2021 T20 WC), trying to balance out between youth and experienced campaigners, identifying new leaders, tinkering roles of different individuals to not increase their options but to broaden the horizons of the resources available. ALSO READ | They were standing there for me: Ishan Kishan credits Rohit, Dravid for backing him despite poor form After the WI home series, coach Dravid confirmed that the team management 'don't want to cast their net too wide'; to avoid confusion and irregularity in team selection. "There is no set time frame to freeze on a team. We don’t want to cast our net too wide but we also don’t want to just restrict ourselves to 15 players. By the time we get to the [T20] World Cup, we need to have a bunch of guys who have at least played 10-20 games," the former captain stated. Surely, Dravid-Rohit pairing is off to a flier. The real test is still miles away but they are not backing out from acknowledging the past mistakes and are boldly setting up new ways going forward. Sit back and relax guys...The road will clearly have more hurdles and speed-breakers but the Rohit-Dravid looks more suited to handle it all with a pragmatic and practical approach.

Rohit Sharma-Rahul Dravid partnership: A promising alliance focused on role clarity & plugging small holes

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. The right-hander stood tall against the Sri Lankans in all three games and ended the series with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) to remain unbeaten throughout the three-match series and walk away with the Player-of-the-Match and the Player-of-the-Series award.&nbsp;

In a modest 147-run chase in the third and final encounter, Iyer came out in the middle at 6-1 and remained unbeaten on 73, studded with 9 fours and a six at a strike rate of 162.22. Courtesy his memorable run versus the Islanders, Iyer joined Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in an elite feat. He is&nbsp;now one of the four Indian batters to score 3 consecutive half-centuries in the shortest format.

The former captain Kohli was&nbsp;the first Indian to achieve this milestone. He had first hit 3 back-to-back fifty-plus scores in 2012 and replicated the same in 2014 and 2018. Rohit achieved the elusive feat in 2018 as well whereas current white-ball vice-captain&nbsp;Rahul has attained&nbsp;the&nbsp;milestone twice - in 2020 and 2021. For the unversed, Iyer and Kohli are the only 2 Indian batsmen to score 3 back-to-back half-centuries in a series.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-beat-sri-lanka-in-3rd-t20i-to-clinch-series-3-0-equal-record-for-most-t20i-wins-on-the-trot-457228">India beat Sri Lanka in 3rd T20I to clinch series 3-0, equal record for most T20I wins on the trot</a>

After the series, Iyer said at the post-match presentation, "All three knocks were special, but yesterday's - coming in at a crucial moment, I'd pick that. Only require one ball to get into form as long as you're keeping your eyes on the ball and playing it on its merit. The wicket was little two paced today compared to yesterday. Was playing on the merit. Outfield is so fast, just had to hit gaps. Been a rollercoster journey after my injury. Real test of you is during rehab sessions."

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/mayank-agarwal-wins-captaincy-race-to-be-named-punjab-kings-skipper-ahead-of-ipl-2022-457319">Mayank Agarwal wins captaincy race to be named Punjab Kings' skipper ahead of IPL 2022</a>

The focus will now shift to the India-Sri Lanka two-match Test series, which will get underway on March 04. The first Test will be held in Mohali, behind closed doors, whereas Bengaluru will host the second and final encounter -- with 50% crowd -- from March 12-16.

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. The right-hander stood tall against the Sri Lankans in all three games and ended the series with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) to remain unbeaten throughout the three-match series and walk away with the Player-of-the-Match and the Player-of-the-Series award.

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka T20Is at home. The right-hander stood tall against the Sri Lankans in all three games and ended the series with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) to remain unbeaten throughout the three-match series and walk away with the Player-of-the-Match and the Player-of-the-Series award. In a modest 147-run chase in the third and final encounter, Iyer came out in the middle at 6-1 and remained unbeaten on 73, studded with 9 fours and a six at a strike rate of 162.22. Courtesy his memorable run versus the Islanders, Iyer joined Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul in an elite feat. He is now one of the four Indian batters to score 3 consecutive half-centuries in the shortest format. The former captain Kohli was the first Indian to achieve this milestone. He had first hit 3 back-to-back fifty-plus scores in 2012 and replicated the same in 2014 and 2018. Rohit achieved the elusive feat in 2018 as well whereas current white-ball vice-captain Rahul has attained the milestone twice - in 2020 and 2021. For the unversed, Iyer and Kohli are the only 2 Indian batsmen to score 3 back-to-back half-centuries in a series. ALSO READ | India beat Sri Lanka in 3rd T20I to clinch series 3-0, equal record for most T20I wins on the trot After the series, Iyer said at the post-match presentation, "All three knocks were special, but yesterday's - coming in at a crucial moment, I'd pick that. Only require one ball to get into form as long as you're keeping your eyes on the ball and playing it on its merit. The wicket was little two paced today compared to yesterday. Was playing on the merit. Outfield is so fast, just had to hit gaps. Been a rollercoster journey after my injury. Real test of you is during rehab sessions." ALSO READ | Mayank Agarwal wins captaincy race to be named Punjab Kings' skipper ahead of IPL 2022 The focus will now shift to the India-Sri Lanka two-match Test series, which will get underway on March 04. The first Test will be held in Mohali, behind closed doors, whereas Bengaluru will host the second and final encounter -- with 50% crowd -- from March 12-16.

Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26. After much speculation, Mayank won the captaincy race despite the presence of senior pro Shikhar Dhawan in the squad, who was bought by the 2014 runners-up in the mega auction held earlier this month.

Mayank, who will now succeed his good friend and ex-Punjab opener KL Rahul as the captain,&nbsp;has been in the PBKS setup since IPL 2018 and had a wonderful run in the last two editions, amassing 424 runs at a whopping strike-rate of 156.45 in IPL 2020 and&nbsp;441&nbsp;runs, with 4 half-centuries, at a strike-rate of 140.44 in last year's&nbsp;season. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction (for INR 140 million).

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🚨 Attention <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SherSquad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SherSquad</a> 🚨 
 
Our 🆕© ➜ Mayank Agarwal 
 
Send in your wishes for the new <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaptainPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CaptainPunjab</a> 🎉<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaddaPunjab?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaddaPunjab</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabKings?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabKings</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TATAIPL2022?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TATAIPL2022</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/mayankcricket?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mayankcricket</a> <a href="https://t.co/hkxwzRyOVA">pic.twitter.com/hkxwzRyOVA</a>
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) <a href="https://twitter.com/PunjabKingsIPL/status/1498168752134930432?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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"I have been at Punjab Kings since 2018 and I take a lot of pride in representing this fantastic unit. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the team. I take over this responsibility with utmost sincerity, but at the same time, I believe my job would be made easier with the talent we have at the Punjab Kings squad this season. We have some vastly experienced players in our ranks, along with many talented youngsters who are keen to grab the opportunity and run with it. We have always taken to the field hoping to win the title and as a team we will once again work towards this goal of lifting our maiden IPL trophy. I thank the team management for entrusting me with this new role of leading the side. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges it brings with it,” said Mayank in a statement.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-new-format-explained-mumbai-indians-and-chennai-super-kings-headline-two-groups-456529">IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups</a>

Anil Kumble, Head Coach, Punjab Kings said, “Mayank has been an integral part of the side since 2018 and of the leadership group for the last two years. The new squad we selected at the recently concluded auction has exciting young talent and outstanding experienced players. We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm. He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the attributes required of a leader. I look forward to working with him as captain and believe that he will lead this team to a successful campaign."

PBKS squad for IPL 2022

Mayank Agarwal (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Benny Howell

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26.

Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Monday (February 28) appointed opener Mayank Agarwal as the franchise's captain ahead of the much-awaited IPL 2022 edition, set to be held in India from March 26. After much speculation, Mayank won the captaincy race despite the presence of senior pro Shikhar Dhawan in the squad, who was bought by the 2014 runners-up in the mega auction held earlier this month. Mayank, who will now succeed his good friend and ex-Punjab opener KL Rahul as the captain, has been in the PBKS setup since IPL 2018 and had a wonderful run in the last two editions, amassing 424 runs at a whopping strike-rate of 156.45 in IPL 2020 and 441 runs, with 4 half-centuries, at a strike-rate of 140.44 in last year's season. He was the only capped player retained by the franchise ahead of the mega auction (for INR 140 million). 🚨 Attention #SherSquad 🚨 Our 🆕© ➜ Mayank Agarwal Send in your wishes for the new #CaptainPunjab 🎉#SaddaPunjab #PunjabKings #TATAIPL2022 @mayankcricket pic.twitter.com/hkxwzRyOVA — Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) February 28, 2022 × "I have been at Punjab Kings since 2018 and I take a lot of pride in representing this fantastic unit. I am delighted to be given the opportunity to lead the team. I take over this responsibility with utmost sincerity, but at the same time, I believe my job would be made easier with the talent we have at the Punjab Kings squad this season. We have some vastly experienced players in our ranks, along with many talented youngsters who are keen to grab the opportunity and run with it. We have always taken to the field hoping to win the title and as a team we will once again work towards this goal of lifting our maiden IPL trophy. I thank the team management for entrusting me with this new role of leading the side. I look forward to the new season and the new challenges it brings with it,” said Mayank in a statement. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 new format explained: Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings headline two groups Anil Kumble, Head Coach, Punjab Kings said, “Mayank has been an integral part of the side since 2018 and of the leadership group for the last two years. The new squad we selected at the recently concluded auction has exciting young talent and outstanding experienced players. We want to create a strong foundation for the future with Mayank at the helm. He is hardworking, enthusiastic, a team player with all the attributes required of a leader. I look forward to working with him as captain and believe that he will lead this team to a successful campaign." PBKS squad for IPL 2022 Mayank Agarwal (captain), Arshdeep Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Jonny Bairstow, Rahul Chahar, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Porel, Liam Livingstone, Odean Smith, Sandeep Sharma, Raj Bawa, Rishi Dhawan, Prerak Mankad, Vaibhav Arora, Writtick Chatterjee, Baltej Dhanda, Ansh Patel, Nathan Ellis, Atharva Taide, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Benny Howell

Mayank Agarwal wins captaincy race to be named Punjab Kings' skipper ahead of IPL 2022

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka three T20Is at home. Iyer got a chance to bat higher up the order, at No. 3, in the absence of Virat Kohli and made the most of the opportunities to remain unbeaten throughout the course of the three T20Is to end with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) as India completed a whitewash over the hapless Islanders.

Thus, Iyer has made a strong case to be a regular in the playing XI in the shortest format, ahead of this year's T20 World Cup. Nonetheless, he still intense competition due to the presence of Suryakumar Yadav&nbsp;and Rishabh Pant (both of whom didn't feature in the SL series) along with currently out-of-favour all-rounder Hardik Pandya.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-joins-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-kl-rahul-in-elite-list-after-dream-run-in-sri-lanka-t20is-457333">Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is</a>

After his memorable series versus the Asian neighbours, Iyer revealed his preferred batting slot amid intense competition for slots in the national side. "I'm not keeping any expectations from myself nor from the team coaches because if you see the competition in our team, it's immense. Every individual is capable of winning you games. Personally I want to enjoy each and every moment and opportunity, which I've been provided with. I like to finish off the games and that's like my mindset whenever I go onto the pitch," he said in the post-match conference.

"Obviously in this format, top-three is the only place where you can pace your innings pretty well. Otherwise if you bat down the order you can't give yourself time you need to start going from ball one. So yeah, if I had to say the best number to bat for me personally, it's obviously No. 3," Iyer added.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-cant-be-replaced-gavaskar-on-in-form-shreyas-iyers-batting-position-for-team-india-in-t20is-457412">Virat Kohli can't be replaced: Gavaskar on in-form Shreyas Iyer's batting position for Team India in T20Is</a>

After the SL series, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar also opined on problems of plenty for the Indian team. He suggested a slot for Iyer in the batting line-up and told Star Sports, "It's a great problem to have. Obviously, Virat Kohli can't be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned."

“There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You might think in terms of all-out attack,” he further asserted.

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka three T20Is at home. Iyer got a chance to bat higher up the order, at No. 3, in the absence of Virat Kohli and made the most of the opportunities to remain unbeaten throughout the course of the three T20Is to end with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) as India completed a whitewash over the hapless Islanders.

Shreyas Iyer had a dream run in the just-concluded India-Sri Lanka three T20Is at home. Iyer got a chance to bat higher up the order, at No. 3, in the absence of Virat Kohli and made the most of the opportunities to remain unbeaten throughout the course of the three T20Is to end with scores of 57* (28), 74* (44) and 73* (45) as India completed a whitewash over the hapless Islanders. Thus, Iyer has made a strong case to be a regular in the playing XI in the shortest format, ahead of this year's T20 World Cup. Nonetheless, he still intense competition due to the presence of Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant (both of whom didn't feature in the SL series) along with currently out-of-favour all-rounder Hardik Pandya. ALSO READ | Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is After his memorable series versus the Asian neighbours, Iyer revealed his preferred batting slot amid intense competition for slots in the national side. "I'm not keeping any expectations from myself nor from the team coaches because if you see the competition in our team, it's immense. Every individual is capable of winning you games. Personally I want to enjoy each and every moment and opportunity, which I've been provided with. I like to finish off the games and that's like my mindset whenever I go onto the pitch," he said in the post-match conference. "Obviously in this format, top-three is the only place where you can pace your innings pretty well. Otherwise if you bat down the order you can't give yourself time you need to start going from ball one. So yeah, if I had to say the best number to bat for me personally, it's obviously No. 3," Iyer added. ALSO READ | Virat Kohli can't be replaced: Gavaskar on in-form Shreyas Iyer's batting position for Team India in T20Is After the SL series, Little Master Sunil Gavaskar also opined on problems of plenty for the Indian team. He suggested a slot for Iyer in the batting line-up and told Star Sports, "It's a great problem to have. Obviously, Virat Kohli can't be replaced. He will probably come in at No.3, there is no question about it. But then you can use somebody like a Shreyas Iyer at No.4 or 5. Suryakumar, the way he has been batting, he is got to be included. It is just the plus, plus as far as the team is concerned." “There are so many options. And it allows you to go in with pure bowlers and not bowlers who can bat. With a top-batting line-up, you can can go in with someone like Mohammed Siraj or Avesh Khan, who is not known as a batsman. You might think in terms of all-out attack,” he further asserted.

'Best number for me is....' - Shreyas Iyer reveals his preferred batting slot after Sri Lanka T20Is

India have a very settled top order in T20Is heading into the upcoming edition of the ICC T20 World Cup which is scheduled to take place in Australia this year. While the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant are all but confirmed to feature in the top four, there is intense competition when it comes to remaining batting positions with a number of star batters in the fray.

The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson and Venkatesh Iyer among others are strong contenders for spots in the middle-order. Iyer, who was in magnificent form in the recently-concluded three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with three back-to-back unbeaten half-centuries has increased the selection headache for the Indian team ahead of the T20 World Cup.

While the opening combination is all but certain to be that of skipper Rohit and vice-captain KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan has also presented a strong case with his ability to strike the ball from the word go and provide destructive starts at the top of the order. However, former Australia spinner Brad Hogg believes former skipper Virat Kohli should be opening the batting for the team if he part of the XI in T20Is.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/shreyas-iyer-joins-virat-kohli-rohit-sharma-kl-rahul-in-elite-list-after-dream-run-in-sri-lanka-t20is-457333">Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is</a>

Open with Kohli, Iyer at 3 and Pant at 4: Hogg

Hogg said Kohli should open the batting with Rohit for India in T20Is while Iyer can bat at number three and Pant can be sent in at number four. The former Australia spinner suggested Rahul be slotted in the middle order while suggesting that Suryakumar, who has been in terrific form over the last few months, can also play at number 5. Hogg said India can then play two all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya at 6 and 7.

"For me, if you're going to have Kohli in the team, he should be opening the batting with Rohit. I'd like to have Shreyas Iyer coming in at No.3 and Pant at No.4. Have to try to get KL Rahul in there as well at some stage. If Pandya is fit, he and Jadeja can feature at No.6 and 7," Hogg said.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/with-siraj-harshal-and-avesh-in-the-mix-indias-pace-attack-shaping-up-well-for-t20-world-cup-2022-457207">With Siraj, Harshal and Avesh in the mix, India's pace attack shaping up well for T20 World Cup 2022</a>

The former Australia spinner also gave his take on what should India's bowling attack look like heading into the T20 World Cup Down Under this year.

&nbsp;"I'd have Siraj, Bumrah and Shami are the quicks. Chahal will be the lead spinner. Suryakumar Yadav coming in at No.5. If Pandya is not fit, then Venkatesh Iyer coming in at No.6," Hogg added. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

India have a very settled top order in T20Is heading into the upcoming edition of the ICC T20 World Cup which is scheduled to take place in Australia this year. While the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant are all but confirmed to feature in the top four, there is intense competition when it comes to remaining batting positions with a number of star batters in the fray.

India have a very settled top order in T20Is heading into the upcoming edition of the ICC T20 World Cup which is scheduled to take place in Australia this year. While the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant are all but confirmed to feature in the top four, there is intense competition when it comes to remaining batting positions with a number of star batters in the fray. The likes of Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson and Venkatesh Iyer among others are strong contenders for spots in the middle-order. Iyer, who was in magnificent form in the recently-concluded three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with three back-to-back unbeaten half-centuries has increased the selection headache for the Indian team ahead of the T20 World Cup. While the opening combination is all but certain to be that of skipper Rohit and vice-captain KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan has also presented a strong case with his ability to strike the ball from the word go and provide destructive starts at the top of the order. However, former Australia spinner Brad Hogg believes former skipper Virat Kohli should be opening the batting for the team if he part of the XI in T20Is. Also Read: Shreyas Iyer joins Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul in elite list after dream run in Sri Lanka T20Is Open with Kohli, Iyer at 3 and Pant at 4: Hogg Hogg said Kohli should open the batting with Rohit for India in T20Is while Iyer can bat at number three and Pant can be sent in at number four. The former Australia spinner suggested Rahul be slotted in the middle order while suggesting that Suryakumar, who has been in terrific form over the last few months, can also play at number 5. Hogg said India can then play two all-rounders in Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya at 6 and 7. "For me, if you're going to have Kohli in the team, he should be opening the batting with Rohit. I'd like to have Shreyas Iyer coming in at No.3 and Pant at No.4. Have to try to get KL Rahul in there as well at some stage. If Pandya is fit, he and Jadeja can feature at No.6 and 7," Hogg said. Also Read: With Siraj, Harshal and Avesh in the mix, India's pace attack shaping up well for T20 World Cup 2022 The former Australia spinner also gave his take on what should India's bowling attack look like heading into the T20 World Cup Down Under this year. "I'd have Siraj, Bumrah and Shami are the quicks. Chahal will be the lead spinner. Suryakumar Yadav coming in at No.5. If Pandya is not fit, then Venkatesh Iyer coming in at No.6," Hogg added.

Not Rahul or Kishan! Ex-Australia spinner names batter who should open with Rohit for India in T20Is

India thrashed Sri Lanka by 62 runs in the first of the three-match T20I series on Thursday evening (February 24) to go 1-0 up in the series. With this win, India also attained their biggest winning streak in the shortest format (10).&nbsp;

Post India's back-to-back defeats in the opening two games of the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE, the Men in Blue have been on a roll with their unbeaten streak now stretching to ten games. By virtue of this, India became the second-Test playing nation to attain 10 successive wins (fourth overall).&nbsp;

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Talking about the series opener, played in Lucknow, Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision backfired as Ishan Kishan-Rohit's century-stand took India off to a flier. While Rohit fell for 32-ball 44, he became the leading run-getter in the shortest format.&nbsp;

After Rohit's fall, Ishan's 56-ball 89 (at a strike-rate of 158.93) and Shreyas Iyer's 28-ball 57 not out (filled with 5 fours, 2 sixes) propelled the home side to a daunting 199-2. This effort came in the absence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant.&nbsp;

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In reply, Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka on the very first ball of the steep run-chase. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also removed Kamil Mishara for cheap whereas Dinesh Chandimal, Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne fell after getting a start each. Rohit once again rotated his bowlers with ease as Bhuvi, Venkestesh Iyer chipped in with two wickets each whereas Yuzi Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja maintained the pressure with one wicket apiece. Chahal also became the leading wicket-taker for the Men in Blue after dismissing Shanaka.&nbsp;

Eventually, SL were restricted for 137 for 6 in their full quota of overs (courtesy of Charith Asalanka's gritty 53*) as they were never in the run-chase and struggled to stitch partnerships.&nbsp;

The second and penultimate T20I will be held in Dharamshala on Saturday (February 26).

India thrashed Sri Lanka by 62 runs in the first of the three-match T20I series on Thursday evening (February 24) to go 1-0 up in the series. With this win, India also attained their biggest winning streak in the shortest format (10).

India thrashed Sri Lanka by 62 runs in the first of the three-match T20I series on Thursday evening (February 24) to go 1-0 up in the series. With this win, India also attained their biggest winning streak in the shortest format (10). Post India's back-to-back defeats in the opening two games of the 2021 T20 World Cup, in the UAE, the Men in Blue have been on a roll with their unbeaten streak now stretching to ten games. By virtue of this, India became the second-Test playing nation to attain 10 successive wins (fourth overall). ALSO READ | IPL 2022 to kick off from March 26, league stage to be played in Mumbai, Pune Talking about the series opener, played in Lucknow, Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first. The decision backfired as Ishan Kishan-Rohit's century-stand took India off to a flier. While Rohit fell for 32-ball 44, he became the leading run-getter in the shortest format. After Rohit's fall, Ishan's 56-ball 89 (at a strike-rate of 158.93) and Shreyas Iyer's 28-ball 57 not out (filled with 5 fours, 2 sixes) propelled the home side to a daunting 199-2. This effort came in the absence of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. ALSO READ | Ind vs SL: Rohit Sharma moves past Martin Guptill, Virat Kohli to become highest run-getter in T20Is In reply, Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka on the very first ball of the steep run-chase. Bhuvneshwar Kumar also removed Kamil Mishara for cheap whereas Dinesh Chandimal, Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne fell after getting a start each. Rohit once again rotated his bowlers with ease as Bhuvi, Venkestesh Iyer chipped in with two wickets each whereas Yuzi Chahal and Ravindra Jadeja maintained the pressure with one wicket apiece. Chahal also became the leading wicket-taker for the Men in Blue after dismissing Shanaka. Eventually, SL were restricted for 137 for 6 in their full quota of overs (courtesy of Charith Asalanka's gritty 53*) as they were never in the run-chase and struggled to stitch partnerships. The second and penultimate T20I will be held in Dharamshala on Saturday (February 26).

Rohit Sharma & Co. thrash Sri Lanka in 1st T20I as India attain longest unbeaten streak in shortest format

A lot has changed in Indian cricket following the 2021 T20 World Cup. Virat Kohli had already made it clear that he won't captain in the shortest format post the mega event and was succeeded by Rohit Sharma. Before the end of 2021, BCCI removed Kohli as the ODI captain as Rohit was appointed as the white-ball skipper.

As Kohli stepped down as the Test captain in mid-January, Rohit has now taken over as the all-format captain. While KL Rahul has been confirmed as Rohit's deputy in the shorter formats, there is no clarity on who will take up the vice-captaincy slot in Tests. Ahead of the India-Sri Lanka home T20Is, captain Rohit addressed the media and mentioned three names who are being looked upon as the possible contenders for Team India captaincy after him.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/bcci-planning-to-field-two-teams-simultaneously-as-india-to-play-more-bilaterals-before-t20-wc-report-455613">BCCI planning to field two teams simultaneously as India to play more bilaterals before T20 WC: Report</a>

Speaking to the press on the eve of the series-opener against SL, on Wednesday (February 23), Rohit said, "If you talk about Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, these guys have a crucial role to play in the future for Indian cricket. They are also seen as possible contenders for leadership," he said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-sri-lanka-hosts-look-to-continue-winning-run-in-t20is-eyes-on-youngsters-455608">India vs Sri Lanka: Hosts look to continue winning run in T20Is, eyes on youngsters</a>

While Rahul has already led India in one Test and three ODIs, during the South Africa tour, Bumrah acted Rahul's deputy back then and will again take the vice-captain's slot in the former's absence for the SL T20Is. On the other hand, Pant was serving as the vice-captain in the recently-concluded white-ball series versus West Indies at home.

A lot has changed in Indian cricket following the 2021 T20 World Cup. Virat Kohli had already made it clear that he won't captain in the shortest format post the mega event and was succeeded by Rohit Sharma.

A lot has changed in Indian cricket following the 2021 T20 World Cup. Virat Kohli had already made it clear that he won't captain in the shortest format post the mega event and was succeeded by Rohit Sharma. Before the end of 2021, BCCI removed Kohli as the ODI captain as Rohit was appointed as the white-ball skipper. As Kohli stepped down as the Test captain in mid-January, Rohit has now taken over as the all-format captain. While KL Rahul has been confirmed as Rohit's deputy in the shorter formats, there is no clarity on who will take up the vice-captaincy slot in Tests. Ahead of the India-Sri Lanka home T20Is, captain Rohit addressed the media and mentioned three names who are being looked upon as the possible contenders for Team India captaincy after him. ALSO READ | BCCI planning to field two teams simultaneously as India to play more bilaterals before T20 WC: Report Speaking to the press on the eve of the series-opener against SL, on Wednesday (February 23), Rohit said, "If you talk about Jasprit Bumrah, KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, these guys have a crucial role to play in the future for Indian cricket. They are also seen as possible contenders for leadership," he said. ALSO READ | India vs Sri Lanka: Hosts look to continue winning run in T20Is, eyes on youngsters While Rahul has already led India in one Test and three ODIs, during the South Africa tour, Bumrah acted Rahul's deputy back then and will again take the vice-captain's slot in the former's absence for the SL T20Is. On the other hand, Pant was serving as the vice-captain in the recently-concluded white-ball series versus West Indies at home.

Rohit Sharma names three possible contenders for Team India captaincy post

KL Rahul has won hearts off the field. India's white-ball vice-captain Rahul has recently saved the life of a young 11-year-old aspiring cricketer from a rare blood disease by donating a generous amount.

The 29-year-old Rahul -- who is suffering from a hamstring injury at present -- came to know about the 11-year-old young kid, named Varad, after his parents had launched a fundraising campaign on GiveIndia&nbsp;to raise INR 3.5 million (INR 35 lakh) for their son's treatment. Thus, Rahul and his team came forward and rescued the young kid from the disease.

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"When I came to know about Varad's condition, my team got in touch with GiveIndia so that we can help him in any way we could. I am glad that the surgery was successful, and he is doing well. I hope Varad gets back on his feet at the earliest and goes on to achieve his dreams. I hope my contribution inspires more and more people to come forward and help those in need," Rahul was quoted as saying in a release.&nbsp;

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According to a report by news agency IANS, Rahul paid a sum of INR 3.1 million (INR 31 lakh) for Varad's treatment. For the unversed, Varad&nbsp;is a schoolboy from Mumbai who has huge aspirations of becoming a professional cricketer and wearing the elusive Team India jersey.

Talking about Rahul, he isn't part of India's home series versus Sri Lanka, which gets underway on February 24 (Thursday). The series comprises three T20Is and two Tests.

KL Rahul has won hearts off the field. India's white-ball vice-captain Rahul has recently saved the life of a young 11-year-old aspiring cricketer from a rare blood disease by donating a generous amount.

KL Rahul has won hearts off the field. India's white-ball vice-captain Rahul has recently saved the life of a young 11-year-old aspiring cricketer from a rare blood disease by donating a generous amount. The 29-year-old Rahul -- who is suffering from a hamstring injury at present -- came to know about the 11-year-old young kid, named Varad, after his parents had launched a fundraising campaign on GiveIndia to raise INR 3.5 million (INR 35 lakh) for their son's treatment. Thus, Rahul and his team came forward and rescued the young kid from the disease. ALSO READ | Not naming for family's sake, but will not hold back if it's repeated: Wriddhiman Saha warns journalist "When I came to know about Varad's condition, my team got in touch with GiveIndia so that we can help him in any way we could. I am glad that the surgery was successful, and he is doing well. I hope Varad gets back on his feet at the earliest and goes on to achieve his dreams. I hope my contribution inspires more and more people to come forward and help those in need," Rahul was quoted as saying in a release. ALSO READ | India had to make Rohit the skipper across formats after Kohli's resignation as Test captain: Saba Karim According to a report by news agency IANS, Rahul paid a sum of INR 3.1 million (INR 31 lakh) for Varad's treatment. For the unversed, Varad is a schoolboy from Mumbai who has huge aspirations of becoming a professional cricketer and wearing the elusive Team India jersey. Talking about Rahul, he isn't part of India's home series versus Sri Lanka, which gets underway on February 24 (Thursday). The series comprises three T20Is and two Tests.

Heartwarming! KL Rahul donates generous amount to save aspiring young cricketer from rare blood disease

Rohit Sharma was appointed as India's permanent Test captain on Saturday (February 19). The Hitman will now be leading India across all formats of the game and his first major assignment in Tests will be the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka at home. The Chetan Sharma-led selection panel announced India's Test and T20I squads for the Sri Lanka series on Saturday.

Apart from naming Rohit as the new Test captain, the selection committee also made some notable exclusions from the squad with an eye on the future. Senior players like Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha were dropped from the side to make way for youngsters. In the absence of KL Rahul, who will miss the series due to an injury, pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been named India's vice-captain for both the T20I and Test series against Sri Lanka.

While speaking about the future captaincy prospects of the Indian cricket team, chief selector Sharma named three potential candidates who will be groomed for a leadership role&nbsp;under current skipper Rohit. Sharma said Rahul, Bumrah and wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant are among potential captaincy candidates for the Indian team going forward.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/dravid-suggested-retirement-ganguly-assured-test-spot-wriddhiman-saha-makes-explosive-revelations-454719">Dravid suggested retirement, Ganguly assured Test spot:&nbsp;Saha makes explosive revelations</a>

“…and if such a big cricketer comes forward, if such an experienced player becomes a captain, then automatically, the things that we as a selection committee want, grooming captain under Rohit, will be a tremendous thing for us,” said the selection committee chairman Sharma while addressing a virtual press conference on Saturday.

“We made KL the captain in South Africa. Bumrah was the deputy in South Africa and again for the Sri Lanka series. In West Indies T20s, we had Rishabh as vice-captain. These are potential leaders to be groomed under Rohit. Yes, it is difficult to say who will be next captain but we are sure a name will emerge,” he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virender-sehwag-reacts-as-wriddhiman-saha-shares-screenshots-of-disturbing-messages-from-a-journalist-454752">Virender Sehwag reacts as Wriddhiman Saha shares screenshots of disturbing messages from a 'journalist'</a>

While Rahul served as stand-in captain for the Indian team in Rohit's absence during the ODI series against South Africa, Pant is the vice-captain of the team for the ongoing three-match T20I series against West Indies. Bumrah will act as Rohit's deputy in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka.

India will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series starting from February 24 followed by two Tests. 
&nbsp;

Rohit Sharma was appointed as India's permanent Test captain on Saturday (February 19). The Hitman will now be leading India across all formats of the game and his first major assignment in Tests will be the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka at home.

Rohit Sharma was appointed as India's permanent Test captain on Saturday (February 19). The Hitman will now be leading India across all formats of the game and his first major assignment in Tests will be the upcoming two-match series against Sri Lanka at home. The Chetan Sharma-led selection panel announced India's Test and T20I squads for the Sri Lanka series on Saturday. Apart from naming Rohit as the new Test captain, the selection committee also made some notable exclusions from the squad with an eye on the future. Senior players like Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha were dropped from the side to make way for youngsters. In the absence of KL Rahul, who will miss the series due to an injury, pacer Jasprit Bumrah has been named India's vice-captain for both the T20I and Test series against Sri Lanka. While speaking about the future captaincy prospects of the Indian cricket team, chief selector Sharma named three potential candidates who will be groomed for a leadership role under current skipper Rohit. Sharma said Rahul, Bumrah and wicket-keeper batter Rishabh Pant are among potential captaincy candidates for the Indian team going forward. Also Read: Dravid suggested retirement, Ganguly assured Test spot: Saha makes explosive revelations “…and if such a big cricketer comes forward, if such an experienced player becomes a captain, then automatically, the things that we as a selection committee want, grooming captain under Rohit, will be a tremendous thing for us,” said the selection committee chairman Sharma while addressing a virtual press conference on Saturday. “We made KL the captain in South Africa. Bumrah was the deputy in South Africa and again for the Sri Lanka series. In West Indies T20s, we had Rishabh as vice-captain. These are potential leaders to be groomed under Rohit. Yes, it is difficult to say who will be next captain but we are sure a name will emerge,” he added. Also Read: Virender Sehwag reacts as Wriddhiman Saha shares screenshots of disturbing messages from a 'journalist' While Rahul served as stand-in captain for the Indian team in Rohit's absence during the ODI series against South Africa, Pant is the vice-captain of the team for the ongoing three-match T20I series against West Indies. Bumrah will act as Rohit's deputy in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. India will take on Sri Lanka in a three-match T20I series starting from February 24 followed by two Tests.

Chetan Sharma names 3 potential captaincy candidates for India who will be groomed under Rohit Sharma

BCCI have announced an&nbsp;18-man squad for Team India's forthcoming three-match T20I series versus Sri Lanka at home. The Chetan Sharma-led All India senior selection committee named the squad in a virtual press conference.

The likes of Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant have been rested for the white-ball assignment versus the Islanders. Following the second and penultimate T20I versus West Indies, on Friday evening (February 18), reports came in that the duo were given a bio-bubble break and have left for their respective homes before the series finale versus the Men in Maroon. Thus, they will now also miss the SL T20Is.

On the other hand, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have returned to the T20I setup. Bumrah was rested for the WI limited-overs series whereas Jadeja was out of action due to injury. He had also missed the entire South Africa tour, due to a knee injury which he sustained during the New Zealand home series in late 2021. Bumrah will also be Rohit Sharma's deputy in the white-ball series as regular white-ball vice-captain KL Rahul is out with a hamstring injury (during the WI ODIs).

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The rest of the squad majorly remains the same (compared to the WI series). Shardul Thakur's name is missing (reasons unknown) whereas Sanju Samson has also made a comeback.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The SL series will get underway on February 24 with the series opener to be played in Lucknow. The remainder of the T20Is will be held in Dharamshala before the two Tests follow suit. The red-ball series will be played from March 4-March 16.

India's squad for the Sri Lanka T20I series:

Rohit Sharma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar, Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan

BCCI have announced an 18-man squad for Team India's forthcoming three-match T20I series versus Sri Lanka at home. The Chetan Sharma-led All India senior selection committee named the squad in a virtual press conference.

BCCI have announced an 18-man squad for Team India's forthcoming three-match T20I series versus Sri Lanka at home. The Chetan Sharma-led All India senior selection committee named the squad in a virtual press conference. The likes of Virat Kohli and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant have been rested for the white-ball assignment versus the Islanders. Following the second and penultimate T20I versus West Indies, on Friday evening (February 18), reports came in that the duo were given a bio-bubble break and have left for their respective homes before the series finale versus the Men in Maroon. Thus, they will now also miss the SL T20Is. On the other hand, the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja have returned to the T20I setup. Bumrah was rested for the WI limited-overs series whereas Jadeja was out of action due to injury. He had also missed the entire South Africa tour, due to a knee injury which he sustained during the New Zealand home series in late 2021. Bumrah will also be Rohit Sharma's deputy in the white-ball series as regular white-ball vice-captain KL Rahul is out with a hamstring injury (during the WI ODIs). ALSO READ | Rohit Sharma named Test captain as BCCI announces squad for Sri Lanka series; Pujara, Rahane dropped The rest of the squad majorly remains the same (compared to the WI series). Shardul Thakur's name is missing (reasons unknown) whereas Sanju Samson has also made a comeback. The SL series will get underway on February 24 with the series opener to be played in Lucknow. The remainder of the T20Is will be held in Dharamshala before the two Tests follow suit. The red-ball series will be played from March 4-March 16. India's squad for the Sri Lanka T20I series: Rohit Sharma (C), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Bhuvneshwar, Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Avesh Khan

BCCI announces India squad for SL T20Is: Kohli, Pant rested; Bumrah named Rohit's deputy, Jadeja returns

Team India put on a clinical display in the three-match ODI series versus West Indies, at home, to inflict a whitewash. Ahead of the three T20Is, starting on February 16, Rohit Sharma &amp; Co. have been dealt with injury concerns with limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel being ruled out.

In Rahul's absence, who suffered a&nbsp;hamstring injury and wasn't part of the third and final ODI, BCCI have named a new vice-captain for the T20I leg. Rishabh Pant has been promoted as Rohit's deputy for the T20I series. This is the first time that Pant has been named as Team India's vice-captain for a series as the left-hander continues to grow in stature.&nbsp;

Pant is being looked upon as a future leader for Team India, especially after the rapid changes that have taken place in the senior men's team post the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. For the unversed, the 24-year-old is also a contender to become the Test captain (or vice-captain) with Virat Kohli's resignation early this year.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/avesh-khan-reveals-rishabh-pants-reaction-when-he-was-sold-to-lucknow-super-giants-during-ipl-2022-auction-453303">Avesh Khan reveals Rishabh Pant's reaction when he was sold to Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2022 auction</a>

The announcement came as BCCI confirmed Kuldeep Yadav to have replaced an injured Sundar for the upcoming T20Is. On the other hand, Deepak Hooda and Ruturaj Gaikwad are now also a part of the squad, with Rahul and Axar being ruled out.

After Pant's elevation as vice-captain, his IPL franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) also congratulated him. He will be leading the Delhi Capitals (DC) once again during the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition. Here's what DC's official Twitter handle wrote:

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You're looking at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TeamIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TeamIndia</a>'s T20I vice-captain for the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvWI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#INDvWI</a> series 🤩 
 
Proud of you, <a href="https://twitter.com/RishabhPant17?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RishabhPant17</a> 💙<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/YehHaiNayiDilli?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#YehHaiNayiDilli</a> <a href="https://t.co/iPZZZZEtDC">pic.twitter.com/iPZZZZEtDC</a>
— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) <a href="https://twitter.com/DelhiCapitals/status/1493272115457687552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2022</a></blockquote>
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ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/suresh-raina-mentions-why-team-india-struggled-in-2021-t20-wc-and-tasted-success-between-2007-13-453238">Suresh Raina explains why India struggled in 2021 T20 WC, opines on team's success between 2007-13</a>

India’s T20I squad:&nbsp;Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain) (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav

Team India put on a clinical display in the three-match ODI series versus West Indies, at home, to inflict a whitewash. Ahead of the three T20Is, starting on February 16, Rohit Sharma & Co.

Team India put on a clinical display in the three-match ODI series versus West Indies, at home, to inflict a whitewash. Ahead of the three T20Is, starting on February 16, Rohit Sharma & Co. have been dealt with injury concerns with limited-overs vice-captain KL Rahul, Washington Sundar and Axar Patel being ruled out. In Rahul's absence, who suffered a hamstring injury and wasn't part of the third and final ODI, BCCI have named a new vice-captain for the T20I leg. Rishabh Pant has been promoted as Rohit's deputy for the T20I series. This is the first time that Pant has been named as Team India's vice-captain for a series as the left-hander continues to grow in stature. Pant is being looked upon as a future leader for Team India, especially after the rapid changes that have taken place in the senior men's team post the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE. For the unversed, the 24-year-old is also a contender to become the Test captain (or vice-captain) with Virat Kohli's resignation early this year. ALSO READ | Avesh Khan reveals Rishabh Pant's reaction when he was sold to Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2022 auction The announcement came as BCCI confirmed Kuldeep Yadav to have replaced an injured Sundar for the upcoming T20Is. On the other hand, Deepak Hooda and Ruturaj Gaikwad are now also a part of the squad, with Rahul and Axar being ruled out. After Pant's elevation as vice-captain, his IPL franchise Delhi Capitals (DC) also congratulated him. He will be leading the Delhi Capitals (DC) once again during the forthcoming IPL 2022 edition. Here's what DC's official Twitter handle wrote: You're looking at #TeamIndia's T20I vice-captain for the #INDvWI series 🤩 Proud of you, @RishabhPant17 💙#YehHaiNayiDilli pic.twitter.com/iPZZZZEtDC — Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) February 14, 2022 × ALSO READ | Suresh Raina explains why India struggled in 2021 T20 WC, opines on team's success between 2007-13 India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (vice-captain) (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda, Kuldeep Yadav

India vs WI, T20Is: BCCI name Rishabh Pant as Rohit Sharma's deputy in KL Rahul's absence

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh wants the Indian team to promote young Ishan Kishan as an opener alongside Rohit Sharma in T20Is. While Rohit has been India's permanent opener in limited-overs cricket for several years now, KL Rahul has managed to topple Shikhar Dhawan from the top spot and make the second opening slot his own in the last few years.

Rahul and Rohit have been opening for India in both ODIs and T20Is for a while now and have enjoyed tremendous success as a pair. However, Harbhajan believes having someone like Kishan as an opener will give India's batting line-up another dimension and the team can expect explosive starts in the shortest format.

Kishan, who made his ODI and T20I debut for India last year, has seen his stocks rise in the last couple of years owing to his batting exploits in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic cricket. Kishan turned out to be the most expensive buy at the recently-concluded IPL 2022 meg auction where he was roped in by Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 15.25 crore (INR 152.5 million).

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-charu-sharma-makes-big-goof-up-sells-khaleel-ahmed-to-dc-on-same-bid-as-mi-at-ipl-mega-auction-453486">WATCH: Charu Sharma makes big goof-up, sells Khaleel Ahmed to DC for same bid as MI at IPL&nbsp;auction</a>

Kishan opened the batting with Rohit in the first ODI of the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against West Indies in the absence of Rahul. He now looks set to once again open the batting with Rohit in the upcoming three-match T20I series against West Indies which gets underway from Wednesday (February 15). Rahul is not a part of the series due to an injury.

Harbhajan recently explained why Kishan should be India's first-choice opener in T20Is while suggesting that Rahul can be slotted in the middle-order which will also give India flexibility in the batting line-up.

"In my opinion, you don't have to prepare Ishan Kishan, he is a ready player. You have to play him, you have to think how you can get him in. If you can bat KL Rahul at No. 5 in ODIs, why not in this format?," Harbhajan said on Star Sports.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/if-you-guys-can-keep-quiet-rohit-sharma-tells-reporters-when-asked-about-virat-kohlis-lean-patch-453442">'If you guys can keep quiet..': Rohit Sharma tells reporters when asked about Virat Kohli's lean patch</a>

"We understand that when he [Rahul] comes down the order in ODIs, he is capable of playing the big shots. So if he bats at No. 5 in T20Is, I feel it will not be a bad thing because you will get a strong middle order and along with that if you want to score 40-60 runs in the first six, you need a fearless player like Ishan Kishan up the order," he added.

India also have young Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was added to the T20I squad as Rahul's replacement. Gaikwad has been a revelation for Chennai Super Kings as an opener in the IPL and can be used as an opener by the Indian team for the West Indies T20Is.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh wants the Indian team to promote young Ishan Kishan as an opener alongside Rohit Sharma in T20Is. While Rohit has been India's permanent opener in limited-overs cricket for several years now, KL Rahul has managed to topple Shikhar Dhawan from the top spot and make the second opening slot his own in the last few years.

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh wants the Indian team to promote young Ishan Kishan as an opener alongside Rohit Sharma in T20Is. While Rohit has been India's permanent opener in limited-overs cricket for several years now, KL Rahul has managed to topple Shikhar Dhawan from the top spot and make the second opening slot his own in the last few years. Rahul and Rohit have been opening for India in both ODIs and T20Is for a while now and have enjoyed tremendous success as a pair. However, Harbhajan believes having someone like Kishan as an opener will give India's batting line-up another dimension and the team can expect explosive starts in the shortest format. Kishan, who made his ODI and T20I debut for India last year, has seen his stocks rise in the last couple of years owing to his batting exploits in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and domestic cricket. Kishan turned out to be the most expensive buy at the recently-concluded IPL 2022 meg auction where he was roped in by Mumbai Indians for a whopping Rs 15.25 crore (INR 152.5 million). Also Read: WATCH: Charu Sharma makes big goof-up, sells Khaleel Ahmed to DC for same bid as MI at IPL auction Kishan opened the batting with Rohit in the first ODI of the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against West Indies in the absence of Rahul. He now looks set to once again open the batting with Rohit in the upcoming three-match T20I series against West Indies which gets underway from Wednesday (February 15). Rahul is not a part of the series due to an injury. Harbhajan recently explained why Kishan should be India's first-choice opener in T20Is while suggesting that Rahul can be slotted in the middle-order which will also give India flexibility in the batting line-up. "In my opinion, you don't have to prepare Ishan Kishan, he is a ready player. You have to play him, you have to think how you can get him in. If you can bat KL Rahul at No. 5 in ODIs, why not in this format?," Harbhajan said on Star Sports. Also Read: 'If you guys can keep quiet..': Rohit Sharma tells reporters when asked about Virat Kohli's lean patch "We understand that when he [Rahul] comes down the order in ODIs, he is capable of playing the big shots. So if he bats at No. 5 in T20Is, I feel it will not be a bad thing because you will get a strong middle order and along with that if you want to score 40-60 runs in the first six, you need a fearless player like Ishan Kishan up the order," he added. India also have young Ruturaj Gaikwad, who was added to the T20I squad as Rahul's replacement. Gaikwad has been a revelation for Chennai Super Kings as an opener in the IPL and can be used as an opener by the Indian team for the West Indies T20Is.

Not KL Rahul! Harbhajan Singh picks young batter who should open with Rohit Sharma for India in T20Is

Indian Premier League - the world's richest cricket league just got bigger and better after the addition of two new teams, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT), to the existing eight franchises.

Indian Premier League - the world's richest cricket league just got bigger and better after the addition of two new teams, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT), to the existing eight franchises. Decoding the spending narratives of both new teams is slightly difficult as they have built a team from scratch. However, if we talk about Lucknow Super Giant (LSG), they have acquired some top-class players to build a strong team in the leadership of India's star batter KL Rahul. For LSG, the pre-auction picks were KL Rahul (Rs 17 cr), Marcus Stoinis (Rs 9.2 cr) and Ravi Bishnoi (Rs 4 cr) and if we see their full squad, it appears they have opted for batting all-rounders, meaning a batting heavy side. Still, they might fall short of names when it comes to batting reserves. ALSO READ | Punjab Kings break the bank for Livingstone. PBKS squad list for IPL 2022 with signings of Dhawan, Bairstow The Playing XI of the side is quite good, however, they might struggle when it will come to bench strength. For the Playing XI, they have KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stonis, Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder, Mark Wood and Avesh Khan. There are lesser options for backup in terms of batting reserves for the first three playing spots. The first five batters in Playing XI are expected to be KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stonis, Manish Pandey, Evin Lewis (not in playing order). In the bowling department, LSG have Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Ankit Rajpoot, Dushmantha Chameera, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav. ALSO READ | Prodigal son returns to Delhi Capitals: Complete squad of DC for IPL 2022 with Warner, Marsh, Shardul in camp After the IPL 2020 Auction, here's how the squad of Lucknow Super Giants looks like: Pre-auction picks: KL Rahul (17 Cr), Marcus Stoinis (9.2 Cr), Ravi Bishnoi (4 Cr) Players acquired at IPL 2022 auction: Batters: Quinton de Kock (wk) (Rs 6.75 cr), Manish Pandey (Rs 4.60 cr), Manan Vohra (Rs 0.20 cr), Evin Lewis (Rs 2 cr). Allrounders: Jason Holder (Rs 8.75 cr), Deepak Hooda (Rs 5.75 cr), Krunal Pandya (Rs 8.25 cr), K Gowtham (Rs 0.90 cr), Ayush Badoni (Rs 0.20 cr), Kyle Mayers (Rs 0.50 cr), Karan Sharma (Rs 0.20 cr) Bowlers: Mark Wood (Rs 7.5 cr), Avesh Khan (Rs 10 cr), Ankit Rajpoot (Rs 0.50 cr), Dushmantha Chameera (Rs 2 cr), Shahbaz Nadeem (Rs 0.50 cr), Mohsin Khan (Rs 0.20 cr), Mayank Yadav (Rs 0.20 cr)

Lucknow Super Giants complete squad for IPL 2022: De Kock, Holder and Avesh among best buys for debutants

All eyes were on the newly-formed IPL team, i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in the two-day IPL 2022 mega auction, held in Bengaluru. Having picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi as their top three picks ahead of the mega auction proceedings, the Lucknow IPL team made heads turn by going all-out in buying the likes of Quinton de Kock,&nbsp;Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda on Day 1 on Saturday (February 12).

On Day 2, Lucknow mentor Gautam Gambhir named a 'steal deal' for the&nbsp;franchise which they roped in on Sunday (February 13). Lucknow bought&nbsp;former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spin-bowling all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham for INR 9 million (INR 90 lakhs). For the unversed, the MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army broke the bank for the Karnataka player in the IPL 2021 auction, buying him for INR 92.5 million (INR 9.25 crore). Hence, Gambhir called him&nbsp;a 'steal deal'.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/nothing-more-dangerous-twitter-explodes-as-mi-include-jofra-archer-in-jasprit-bumrah-starrer-pace-attack-452996">Nothing more dangerous: Twitter explodes as MI include Jofra Archer in Jasprit Bumrah-starrer pace attack</a>

Speaking to official broadcaster Star Sports, on Sunday (February 13), the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gambhir firstly shared his experience of building a squad from scratch. "I have been at the auction table before but never have a built a squad from scratch as there was always a core team around which we built the squad," he said.

Gambhir then highlighted a signing from Day 2 which&nbsp;was a steal deal, as per him, for the&nbsp;franchise. "I think getting Krishnappa Gautham for 90 lakhs was a steal deal. He went for 9.25 crore last time around. We were looking for somebody to add firepower at No. 8 and with Krunal Pandya already a part of the squad, we were very happy to buy Gowtham as well," he asserted.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-mega-auction-faf-du-plessis-emotional-message-for-dhonis-csk-after-joining-rcb-watch-452969">IPL 2022 mega auction: Faf du Plessis' emotional message for Dhoni's CSK after joining RCB - WATCH</a>

LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had stated after&nbsp;Day 1 of the IPL mega auction during a virtual press conference, "We are very happy with the way it's gone so far. We have got our top preferences as of now and it's gone well so far for us. We have got a great opener in Quinton, a very good all-rounder in Jason Holder. We have two quality Indian batsmen. Out of the seven people we had in the squad so far, I think there is a balance beginning to emerge. So far, it is very much on track for us."

All eyes were on the newly-formed IPL team, i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in the two-day IPL 2022 mega auction, held in Bengaluru. Having picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi as their top three picks ahead of the mega auction proceedings, the Lucknow IPL team made heads turn by going all-out in buying the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda on Day 1 on Saturday (February 12).

All eyes were on the newly-formed IPL team, i.e. the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), in the two-day IPL 2022 mega auction, held in Bengaluru. Having picked KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Ravi Bishnoi as their top three picks ahead of the mega auction proceedings, the Lucknow IPL team made heads turn by going all-out in buying the likes of Quinton de Kock, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Manish Pandey and Deepak Hooda on Day 1 on Saturday (February 12). On Day 2, Lucknow mentor Gautam Gambhir named a 'steal deal' for the franchise which they roped in on Sunday (February 13). Lucknow bought former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) spin-bowling all-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham for INR 9 million (INR 90 lakhs). For the unversed, the MS Dhoni-led Yellow Army broke the bank for the Karnataka player in the IPL 2021 auction, buying him for INR 92.5 million (INR 9.25 crore). Hence, Gambhir called him a 'steal deal'. ALSO READ | Nothing more dangerous: Twitter explodes as MI include Jofra Archer in Jasprit Bumrah-starrer pace attack Speaking to official broadcaster Star Sports, on Sunday (February 13), the former Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Gambhir firstly shared his experience of building a squad from scratch. "I have been at the auction table before but never have a built a squad from scratch as there was always a core team around which we built the squad," he said. Gambhir then highlighted a signing from Day 2 which was a steal deal, as per him, for the franchise. "I think getting Krishnappa Gautham for 90 lakhs was a steal deal. He went for 9.25 crore last time around. We were looking for somebody to add firepower at No. 8 and with Krunal Pandya already a part of the squad, we were very happy to buy Gowtham as well," he asserted. ALSO READ | IPL 2022 mega auction: Faf du Plessis' emotional message for Dhoni's CSK after joining RCB - WATCH LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka had stated after Day 1 of the IPL mega auction during a virtual press conference, "We are very happy with the way it's gone so far. We have got our top preferences as of now and it's gone well so far for us. We have got a great opener in Quinton, a very good all-rounder in Jason Holder. We have two quality Indian batsmen. Out of the seven people we had in the squad so far, I think there is a balance beginning to emerge. So far, it is very much on track for us."

IPL 2022 mega auction: Gautam Gambhir names ex-CSK player as 'steal deal' for Lucknow Super Giants

Avesh Khan, who had a memorable run for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2021, has made heads turn by becoming the highest-ever uncapped player&nbsp;during Day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12). He, thus, went&nbsp;past K Gowtham’s 9.25 cr in 2021 (CSK) to create a new record among uncapped players.

When broadcaster Charu Sharma announced the players from the uncapped list, Avesh's name attracted quite a lot of franchises as he saw several teams bidding for him. The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Mumbai Indians (MI) and the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were engaged in an intense bidding war for the 25-year-old pacer, who eventually went to the KL Rahul-led Lucknow franchise for a whopping price of INR 100 million (INR 10 crore).

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2022-aakash-chopra-names-virat-kohlis-successor-as-rcb-pick-star-players-in-mega-auction-452770">IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra names Virat Kohli's successor as RCB pick star players in mega auction</a>

For the unversed, Avesh had a breath-through season in IPL 2021 edition, accounting for a total of 24 wickets -- second-most overall --&nbsp;at an average of 18.75. He, thus, played a key role in taking Pant &amp; Co. to the playoffs. He, however, wasn't retained by Delhi camp as they went ahead and retained Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel and Anrich Nortje.

DC, surprisingly, also didn't bid for Avesh; having already invested a huge sum on several players.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/csk-stalwart-suresh-raina-goes-unsold-at-ipl-2022-mega-auction-452593">CSK stalwart Suresh Raina goes UNSOLD at IPL 2022 mega auction</a>

Prior to the mega auction proceedings, R Ashwin -- Avesh's ex-DC teammate -- had predicted a huge bidding war for the young speedster.&nbsp;"There is definitely going to be a bidding war for Avesh Khan. No doubt about that. Guarantee. Just like how Vijay Mallya fought for me with CSK in 2010, I can picture a Parth Jindal or a Kiran Rao fighting it out for Avesh Khan this year. With whom will they fight? Well, that might be any team," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.

Surely, many are highly&nbsp;impressed with Avesh as he will now look to replicate his previous season's performance in the Rahul-led Lucknow franchise.

Avesh Khan, who had a memorable run for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2021, has made heads turn by becoming the highest-ever uncapped player during Day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12).

Avesh Khan, who had a memorable run for the Rishabh Pant-led Delhi Capitals (DC) in IPL 2021, has made heads turn by becoming the highest-ever uncapped player during Day 1 of the IPL 2022 mega auction, being held in Bengaluru on Saturday (February 12). He, thus, went past K Gowtham’s 9.25 cr in 2021 (CSK) to create a new record among uncapped players. When broadcaster Charu Sharma announced the players from the uncapped list, Avesh's name attracted quite a lot of franchises as he saw several teams bidding for him. The MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Mumbai Indians (MI) and the 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) were engaged in an intense bidding war for the 25-year-old pacer, who eventually went to the KL Rahul-led Lucknow franchise for a whopping price of INR 100 million (INR 10 crore). ALSO READ | IPL 2022: Aakash Chopra names Virat Kohli's successor as RCB pick star players in mega auction For the unversed, Avesh had a breath-through season in IPL 2021 edition, accounting for a total of 24 wickets -- second-most overall -- at an average of 18.75. He, thus, played a key role in taking Pant & Co. to the playoffs. He, however, wasn't retained by Delhi camp as they went ahead and retained Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Axar Patel and Anrich Nortje. DC, surprisingly, also didn't bid for Avesh; having already invested a huge sum on several players. ALSO READ | CSK stalwart Suresh Raina goes UNSOLD at IPL 2022 mega auction Prior to the mega auction proceedings, R Ashwin -- Avesh's ex-DC teammate -- had predicted a huge bidding war for the young speedster. "There is definitely going to be a bidding war for Avesh Khan. No doubt about that. Guarantee. Just like how Vijay Mallya fought for me with CSK in 2010, I can picture a Parth Jindal or a Kiran Rao fighting it out for Avesh Khan this year. With whom will they fight? Well, that might be any team," Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. Surely, many are highly impressed with Avesh as he will now look to replicate his previous season's performance in the Rahul-led Lucknow franchise.

IPL 2022 mega auction: Avesh Khan becomes highest-ever uncapped pick, sold for Rs 10 crore

India's vice-captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel have been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against West Indies. While Rahul will miss the three-match rubber after suffering a hamstring injury while fielding during the second ODI against West Indies on Wednesday, Axar is yet to recover fully from his shin injury and had also tested positive for COVID-19 recently.

The duo will be replaced by opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Deepak Hooda in India's T20 squad for the West Indies series. While Gaikwad has already made his T20I debut for the Indian team, Hooda is yet to earn his maiden cap in the shortest format of the game. Hooda had recently impressed on his ODI debut for the Men in Blue against Kieron Pollard's men.

"Rahul sustained an upper left hamstring strain during fielding in the 2nd ODI on 9th February 2022 while Axar has resumed the final stage of his rehabilitation after recently recovering from Covid-19. They will now head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further management of their injury," said the BCCI in a statement on Friday.

"The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda as replacements," it added.&nbsp;

Both Gaikwad and Hooda are already part of India's ODI squad for the ongoing three-match series against West Indies and will stay with the squad for the T20Is. In the absence of Rahul, Gaikwad will be hoping to get more opportunities at the top after not getting even a single game in the ODI series.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/virat-kohli-endures-worst-odi-series-in-9-years-as-he-bags-2-ball-duck-in-3rd-odi-against-west-indies-452428">Virat Kohli endures worst ODI series in 9 years as he bags 2-ball duck in 3rd ODI against West Indies</a>

Hooda can also be used as a finisher in the lower middle-order in the absence of the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, who are both not part of the squad. Venkatesh Iyer will be Hooda's only competitor for the all-rounder's spot in the playing XI.

India's updated T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda.

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India's vice-captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel have been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against West Indies. While Rahul will miss the three-match rubber after suffering a hamstring injury while fielding during the second ODI against West Indies on Wednesday, Axar is yet to recover fully from his shin injury and had also tested positive for COVID-19 recently.

India's vice-captain KL Rahul and all-rounder Axar Patel have been ruled out of the upcoming T20I series against West Indies. While Rahul will miss the three-match rubber after suffering a hamstring injury while fielding during the second ODI against West Indies on Wednesday, Axar is yet to recover fully from his shin injury and had also tested positive for COVID-19 recently. The duo will be replaced by opening batter Ruturaj Gaikwad and all-rounder Deepak Hooda in India's T20 squad for the West Indies series. While Gaikwad has already made his T20I debut for the Indian team, Hooda is yet to earn his maiden cap in the shortest format of the game. Hooda had recently impressed on his ODI debut for the Men in Blue against Kieron Pollard's men. "Rahul sustained an upper left hamstring strain during fielding in the 2nd ODI on 9th February 2022 while Axar has resumed the final stage of his rehabilitation after recently recovering from Covid-19. They will now head to the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for further management of their injury," said the BCCI in a statement on Friday. "The All-India Senior Selection Committee has named Ruturaj Gaikwad and Deepak Hooda as replacements," it added. Both Gaikwad and Hooda are already part of India's ODI squad for the ongoing three-match series against West Indies and will stay with the squad for the T20Is. In the absence of Rahul, Gaikwad will be hoping to get more opportunities at the top after not getting even a single game in the ODI series. Also Read: Virat Kohli endures worst ODI series in 9 years as he bags 2-ball duck in 3rd ODI against West Indies Hooda can also be used as a finisher in the lower middle-order in the absence of the likes of Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, who are both not part of the squad. Venkatesh Iyer will be Hooda's only competitor for the all-rounder's spot in the playing XI. India's updated T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Mohd. Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Deepak Hooda.

KL Rahul, Axar Patel ruled out of T20I series against West Indies, replacements announced

India got off to a winning start in the ongoing three-match ODI series against West Indies with a comfortable six-wicket win in the first ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The hosts will be locking horns with Kieron Pollard &amp; Co. in the second ODI of the series on Wednesday and will be hoping to continue their winning run against the visitors.

Spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar were brilliant for India in the series-opener as the duo rattled the West Indies batting line up to pick up seven wickets between them. West Indies were bundled out for a paltry 176 runs in 43.5 overs before India chased down the target with as many as 22 overs to spare.

Captain Rohit Sharma, who was leading the Men in Blue in his first ODI as the full-time skipper of the Indian team, slammed a brilliant 51-ball 60 to get the hosts off to a good start before Suryakumr Yadav (34) and debutant Deepak Hooda (26) wrapped up the run-chase while remaining unbeaten.

It was a comfortable victory for India in the first ODI, however, a change is likely in the playing XI for the second ODI as KL Rahul is available for selection after missing the first game. The vice-captain had missed the series-opener due to personal reasons but is likely to return to the XI in the second game.

Rahul is likely to replace left-hand batter Ishan Kishan at the top as India would like to give Hooda more chances in the middle-order after his good show on debut. Kishan, who also looked in fine touch for his 28 off 36 balls, might have to make way for Rahul, who is unlikely to be slotted in the middle-order and will play as an opener.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/india-vs-wi-virat-kohli-to-join-sachin-tendulkar-ms-dhoni-yuvraj-singh-in-elite-list-during-2nd-odi-451477">&nbsp;Virat Kohli to join Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh in elite list during 2nd ODI</a>

Apart from Rahul replacing Kishan, India are unlikely to make any other change and will once again reply on the spin pair of Chahal and Sundar to continue their terrific run in the second game. Sundar is unlikely to be replaced by any other spinner as he offers a lot with the bat as well lower down the order.

India's predicted XI for 2nd ODI against West Indies:

Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal,&nbsp;Prasidh Krishna

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India got off to a winning start in the ongoing three-match ODI series against West Indies with a comfortable six-wicket win in the first ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

India got off to a winning start in the ongoing three-match ODI series against West Indies with a comfortable six-wicket win in the first ODI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The hosts will be locking horns with Kieron Pollard & Co. in the second ODI of the series on Wednesday and will be hoping to continue their winning run against the visitors. Spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Washington Sundar were brilliant for India in the series-opener as the duo rattled the West Indies batting line up to pick up seven wickets between them. West Indies were bundled out for a paltry 176 runs in 43.5 overs before India chased down the target with as many as 22 overs to spare. Captain Rohit Sharma, who was leading the Men in Blue in his first ODI as the full-time skipper of the Indian team, slammed a brilliant 51-ball 60 to get the hosts off to a good start before Suryakumr Yadav (34) and debutant Deepak Hooda (26) wrapped up the run-chase while remaining unbeaten. It was a comfortable victory for India in the first ODI, however, a change is likely in the playing XI for the second ODI as KL Rahul is available for selection after missing the first game. The vice-captain had missed the series-opener due to personal reasons but is likely to return to the XI in the second game. Rahul is likely to replace left-hand batter Ishan Kishan at the top as India would like to give Hooda more chances in the middle-order after his good show on debut. Kishan, who also looked in fine touch for his 28 off 36 balls, might have to make way for Rahul, who is unlikely to be slotted in the middle-order and will play as an opener. Also Read: Virat Kohli to join Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh in elite list during 2nd ODI Apart from Rahul replacing Kishan, India are unlikely to make any other change and will once again reply on the spin pair of Chahal and Sundar to continue their terrific run in the second game. Sundar is unlikely to be replaced by any other spinner as he offers a lot with the bat as well lower down the order. India's predicted XI for 2nd ODI against West Indies: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Prasidh Krishna

Ishan Kishan to make way for KL Rahul? India's predicted playing XI for 2nd ODI against West Indies

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