Aakash Chopra Suggests Deepak Hooda Should Open for LSG

Troubles within the LSG camp as injury rules out skipper KL Rahul out of the IPL. KL Rahul had hurt himself in the last LSG vs RCB game while fielding. The skipper was off the ground for most of the game but came out to bat in the last over despite the injury. BCCI was quick to intervene in the matter and have taken over the responsibility to keep a check on Rahul’s injury status. However, this has now put pressure on LSG management to find another opener to replace KL.

LSG will face CSK in the afternoon game on Wednesday, May 3. While Krunal Pandya will step in to lead Lucknow SuperGiants, cricket expert Aakash Chopra believes that either Deepak Hooda or Marcus Stoinis should open for the team. Deepak Hooda had a decent tournament last year and was expected to do well this year but has been nothing but disappointing. Explaining his thought behind suggesting Marcus Stoinis to open, Aakash Chopra mentioned that during the initial overs, Chennai Super Kings will not bring in spinners and hence, the Australian batter can score quick runs.

Krunal Pandya to lead LSG in the absence of KL Rahul

“KL Rahul might not be available. He got injured on Monday only, so how will he come back on Wednesday? So if he is not there will they play Manan Vohra? I have a slightly out-of-the-box suggestion – get either Deepak Hooda or Marcus Stoinis to open whether it is a red or black-soil pitch. Marcus is not going to score runs anywhere other than there. If you talk about Chennai’s bowling, they will not bowl spin at the start. They will try to get good fast bowling. So Marcus Stoinis can hit in such a case,” he said.

Aakash Chopra further added that the LSG team may see some changes depending on the pitch but irrespective of whatever, Quinton de Kock is likely to not be part of the team. He added that LSG may include Avesh Khan and Mark Wood if the pitch consists of red soil but with the black ones, they will go with Naveen-Ul-Haq. Both LSG as well as CSK are coming into this game with defeats. They will be keen to win and get 2 important points as the competition gets tougher.