Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul on Monday (January 24) explained the reason behind his team picking Australia all-rounder Marcus Stoinis and uncapped India leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi for the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Last week, the Lucknow-based franchise signed Rahul for a whopping INR 17 crore while Stoinis and Bishnoi were roped in for INR 9.2 crore and INR 4 crore respectively.
“The idea behind (picking) Stoinis and Bishnoi is very simple. When you are trying to get three retentions, you want to get three pillars sorted. You have an opening batter in me, you have an all-rounder in Stoinis, who can bat No. 5-6. We’ve seen that in Big Bash, he has opened as well. He’s a very flexible player. He gives you a sixth bowling option as well,” Rahul, who will lead Lucknow in IPL 2022, said while speaking on the show “Backstage with Boria”.
Stoinis, who started his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) in 2015, has also turned up for Punjab and Bangalore franchises in the past, with Lucknow set to be his fourth IPL team. He was instrumental in DC’s journey to the playoffs in the last two seasons.
As for Bishnoi, the leg-spinner was bagged by Punjab in 2020 for INR 2 crore, and he left a mark instantly with a 12-wicket tally in his debut season. Bishnoi continued his brilliance in the 2021 season as well, returning with 12 scalps from 9 games.
“We’ve seen in the history of IPL that wrist spinners have done really well and whoever is available in this auction will be hot. We felt getting all of us would give us a good start as a team,” Rahul added.
The Lucknow captain was effusive in praise for the two players, having shared dressing room with them at Punjab Kings (previously Kings XI Punjab)
“Marcus is a very committed player and is a brilliant team man. Bishnoi has a big heart for a youngster who hasn’t played too much. In IPL cricket he has shown a lot of heart. He wanted to be in the fight and bowl to the likes of Pollard, Russell, Hardik and Rishabh. Whenever they came in, he would say, ‘bhaiyya mujhe ball do’. I can see him playing for India soon and for a long time," he said.
Lucknow’s team mentor Gautam Gambhir too was pleased with the signing of Bishnoi, who has the ability to take wickets at any stage of the game.
“Ravi Bishnoi, for me, made a lot of sense. He is young, is a wicket-taking option. He’s going to be a sure shot guy in the playing XI. He can bowl at different stages of the game. More importantly, he is an uncapped player as well. From every sense, it made a lot of logic for us to get him on board," Gambhir said on the same show.
