Debutants Lucknow Super Giants have shone in IPL 2022. Stealing a march on more experienced sides, the KL Rahul-led team began strongly before faltering, ever so slightly, to drop out of the Top 2. Irrespective, third place and a playoff berth are the least they deserve. A highly cohesive unit Lucknow has managed to marry youth with experience to best effect. While there will be some disappointment at missing out on the first qualifier- having been second in the table for long periods- they will dust themselves off for an Eden Gardens knockout against Royal Challengers Bangalore. With the cut-throat nature of the eliminator still days away we look back on a campaign full of positives for LSG.

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The Giants would take their IPL bow against fellow newcomers Gujarat Titans. Batting first, LSG scored 158, driven by fifties from Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni. Rahul Tewatia’s 40* would rescue the Titans, edging them over the line in the final over. LSG would bounce back with a final-over win of their own. Chasing 211 against Chennai Super Kings, Quentin De Kock got them going with a rapid 61 off 45 balls. Trinidadian Evin Lewis’ blistering 55* off 23 balls would see them home. Wins against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals would follow. Against SRH, Avesh Khan’s spell of 4/24 was the difference-maker while De Kock’s 80 off 52 balls helped tilt a tight run chase against Delhi.

Undone by Hetmyer’s 59* and Yuzvendra Chahal’s guile, Lucknow would succumb to Rajasthan Royals but followed it up with a straightforward win against strugglers Mumbai Indians. KL Rahul blitzed a 103 off only 60 balls as LSG coasted to 199. In response, MI would fall short by 18 runs. The margin would repeat itself in their next encounter against Bangalore, but with the Giants at the receiving end. If Faf du Plessis’ violent 96 helped RCB post 181, Josh Hazelwood’s spell of 4/25 would snuff out all chances.

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LSG recovered admirably, racking up four wins in succession. In a crushing 36 run win against Mumbai, Rahul was the wrecker-in-chief, reeling off 103 runs in just 62 balls. Krunal Pandya’s four overs yielded just 19 runs and three wickets, shutting out all hopes of a Mumbai revival. Punjab Kings were brushed aside, unable to escape Pandya’s chokehold. Returning figures of 2/11, he helped LSG ease to a 20-run victory. Against Delhi Capitals, Rahul and Hooda contributed with the bat, scoring 77 and 51 respectively. Defending 195, Mohsin Khan’s spell of 4/16 would ensure a narrow six-run win. KKR stood no chance against a superior Lucknow. Sent into bat, the Giants posted a healthy 176/7. In response, the Knight Riders were bundled out for 101.

However, back-to-back losses against Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals would help the latter climb above them in the league table. Closing out their league campaign against Kolkata, LSG’s opening pair of KL Rahul and Quentin De Kock sent IPL records tumbling. Putting together an unbeaten stand of 210, the duo were relentless. Twice given a reprieve, De Kock scored a season-high 140* off 70 balls. Playing for pride and nothing more, KKR ran them close but eventually fell short by two runs.