Do the Royal Challengers Bengaluru have a true “home advantage” against the Lucknow Super Giants in the 2024 Indian Premier League?
Faf du Plessis and KL Rahul(IPL)
As if their questionable track record at Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium wasn’t reason enough for them to be skeptical of the “home advantage” When RCB and the Lucknow Super Giants play in the IPL in 2024, there’s a good probability that LSG will have a stronger sense of familiarity than RCB. More Karnataka cricket players play for LSG than for RCB. Karnataka’s top stars are Devudutt Padikkal and Krishnappa Gowtham, followed by LSG captain KL Rahul. Only Manoj Bhandage and Vijaykumar Vyashak are available for the RCB, though.
Even though Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli—one of the rare players to have played for only one IPL franchise—have played a lot of cricket at the Chinnaswamy, the players who have grown up playing there will undoubtedly feel at ease.
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Before the game, KL Rahul made the following statement in an LSG video: “It is home (Chinnaswammy Stadium). This is where my cricketing career began. It’s always electrifying when you visit Chinnaswammy to play.”
In addition to the Indian squad, KL has a stellar first-class and List-A record. He has played a large number of games for Karnataka. KL has amassed 6,760 runs at an average of 44.18 in 93 first-class matches, with 18 hundreds and 32 fifties. 337 is his greatest score. KL has amassed 4,830 runs at an average of 46.89 in 127 List-A games for India, with 11 hundreds and 31 fifties.
In addition, the graceful right-hand hitter played for RCB in the 2013 and 2016 Indian Premier Leagues. He has scored 417 runs at an average of 37.91 in 19 games with the team, including four half-centuries in 14 innings. His highest rating is 68*.
KL thought back to his team’s thrilling recent game in Bengaluru versus RCB. With fifty-nine runs in 46 balls, five fours, and five sixes from captain Faf Du Plessis, sixty-one from Virat Kohli in 44 balls, and sixty-nine from Glenn Maxwell in 29 balls, with two fours and six sixes, RCB had amassed 212/2 in 20 overs. But when LSG was reduced to 99/4, half-centuries from Nicholas Pooran (62 in 19 balls, with seven sixes and four boundaries) and Marcus Stoinis (65 in 30 balls) enabled LSG to lower the total on the last ball.
Another memorable aspect of that match is the altercation that followed between Virat and former LSG coach Gautam Gambhir.
“This place had it all the last time we played here. Fantastic excitement, drama, and bowling and batting. I will never forget the jabs from Pooran and Stoinis. I hope we can amuse the fans and give them what they want in this match, making it one of the greatest of the season, Rahul remarked.
Gowtham and Padikkal gear-up for ‘home’ away from home
All-rounder Krishnappa Gowtham, who plays for LSG in the IPL and has represented Karnataka in domestic cricket, said that he had a record of hitting 149 runs and claiming eight wickets in a match played here.
“I have a record here, having taken eight wickets in one game and scoring 140 runs.” Many memories here,” Gowtham remarked.
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In 59 first-class matches for Karnataka, Gowtham—who has played one ODI for India—has amassed 1,419 runs at an average of 19.70, including five fifty-scores and a century. His highest rating is 149*.
Another hitter, Devdutt Padikkal, who has played for both the RCB and Karnataka in domestic cricket, stated, “Obviously it is home.” It’s always amazing to come back and play here, no matter where else I travel.”
