Nicholas Pooran walked out at the toss for Lucknow Super Giants in place of their usual team captain KL Rahul, leading to collective confusion ahead of their IPL 2024 match against Punjab Kings on March 30.

Rahul, who led LSG in their opening fixture against Rajasthan Royals earlier this week, did not walk out for the coin flip at the Ekana Stadium for their first home game of the season. It led to doubts whether KL was playing at all. Stand-in captain Pooran confirmed that Rahul had been slotted in as an Impact Player for the match – and yet he was still in the starting XI.

Playing as Impact Player

“KL is coming back from injury and we’re looking to give him a break in such a long tournament,” Pooran said, “but he’ll play as an impact player today.

“Everyone must take the opportunities and perform at their best.”

With LSG batting first, Rahul came out to open the batting with Quinton de Kock, although the broadcasters’ pre-match graphics had him at No.3. Pooran naming him as the impact player presumably means, barring a worse injury to someone else, Rahul is to be subbed out. De Kock was listed as the designated keeper, with Lucknow’s five Impact options being: Deepak Hooda, Amit Mishra, Krishnappa Gowtham, Naveen Ul Haq and Ashton Turner. With Rahul set to be absent in the field, it made sense to give Pooran leadership responsibilities.

There is also the factor that, had LSG been asked to field, Rahul would have had to name an XI without him in it, had he been captain.

Interestingly, Rahul kept wicket in the game against RR, and then batted 44 deliveries for 58 in their chase of 194, which they fell short of by 20 runs.

On Saturday, he was dismissed in the third over for a nine-ball 15, caught by Jonny Bairstow off Arshdeep Singh.

LSG will bat first against PBKS at the Ekana today.

Lucknow Super Giants do not have KL Rahul captaining. #LSGvsPBKS #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/5CYAV1MHBM

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) March 30, 2024

KL Rahul’s return from injury

The injury Pooran mentioned is a right quadriceps tendon injury that Rahul complained about after the first Test against England in January. He was ruled out of the second Test, but was named in the squad for the final three Tests subject to fitness, which he eventually did not feature in.

He was subsequently sent for rehab at the National Cricket Academy, further travelling to London to consult a specialist.

During the IPL last year, Rahul suffered a torn tendon in his thigh while fielding, which kept him out of action for six months.

With the T20 World Cup set to be held in June, Rahul’s latest role change could be a precautionary measure to ensure longevity throughout a two-month long IPL and what follows.