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Aakash Chopra identifies a batter with the potential to shine at No. 3 for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.
Lucknow Super Giants’ no. 3 woes addressed
The Super Giants have been impressive in the past two IPL seasons, reaching the playoffs but falling short of the final. However, despite a strong opening duo and a powerful middle order, LSG struggled to find a settled No. 3, especially with Deepak Hooda struggling last season. Now cricket analyst Chopra opined that the acquisition of Devdutt Padikkal could be the solution to LSG’s No. 3 concerns in IPL 2024.
LSG traded for Padikkal, releasing Avesh Khan to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) before the IPL 2024 auction. The trade bolstered their purse by ₹2.25 crore, leaving them with a budget of ₹13.15 crore to acquire up to six players, including two foreigners.
Aakash Chopra picks a batter who could be a game-changer for LSG at No.3
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted that LSG brought in Padikkal to address their No. 3 issues.
“They (LSG) have done a big trade. The No. 3 batter was a problem. If you check out the entire last season, with (KL) Rahul or without him, you will find problems at No. 3. Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya and Prerak Mankad were tried at No. 3 but the job wasn’t getting done. None of them was a solution to that problem. No T20 team that has problems at No. 3 can do well. So this team gave Avesh Khan and in came Devdutt Padikkal. If you see Devdutt Padikkal’s Vijay Hazare Trophy numbers, you will say he is in gun form,” Chopra said.
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Left-hander a valuable addition
The former cricketer-turned-commentator also considered the left-hander a valuable addition to the Super Giants and encourages the franchise to consistently bat him in the top three.
“It will be a challenge for Lucknow as well that they should always keep him at No. 3 and get him to open if they get a chance because he is actually a very good player. His best in the IPL came as an opener for RCB. So it is a good trade as they have completely put aside the No. 3 problem,” the 46-year-old concluded.
Devdutt Padikkal’s impressive form in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023
Padikkal has been in excellent form, scoring 465 runs for Karnataka in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2023 at an impressive average of 155.00 and a strike rate of 120.46, including two centuries and three half-centuries in five innings, with 117 as his top score.
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