Ruturaj Gaikwad and KL Rahul both had forgettable starts to their respective campaign in IPL 2022 as both registered a duck in their first match this season.
Gaikwad was the Orange Cap winner last season, amassing 635 runs and helping Chennai Super Kings to the title. KL Rahul, then captaining Punjab Kings, was the leading run-scorer in IPL 2020, recording 670 runs; KL Rahul was also the third-highest scorer in IPL 2021, finishing just 9 runs behind Gaikwad, but in three fewer matches than the CSK opener.
Both KL Rahul, now the captain of Lucknow Super Giants, and Gaikwad, who has made his India T20I debut, are expected to fight for the Orange Cap again this season. However, their first innings in the middle yielded a duck.
Ruturaj Gaikwad was dismissed for a four-ball duck by KKR’s Umesh Yadav in the first game of IPL 2022. Looking to cut, Gaikwad chased an out swinging delivery from Yadav, but managed only a thin edge.
KL Rahul, though, received a peach of a delivery from Gujarat Titans’ Mohammed Shami and was dismissed for a first-ball duck. It was an almost unplayable delivery from Shami to Rahul: on full length and swinging in little, the ball straightened on pitching. Rahul looked to play the line of ball with it swinging in, tried a defensive push, but had his bat slightly – just slightly open – and nicked it while the bat wasn’t even down yet.
This coincidence – of the last two Orange Cap winners, both of whom are expected to be in contention of the same this season as well, getting out for ducks – has got the fans talking.
Duck (0) in 1st match of IPL 2022.
Orange Cap Holders –
IPL 2020 : KL Rahul
IPL 2021 : Ruturaj Gaikwad#IPL2022 #LSGvsGT #LSGvGT #WhistlePodu #CSK? #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/73nr8ZIYXs— Ruturaj Gaikwad FC
(@Ruturaj_FC) March 28, 2022
Orange Cap supposed contenders gone for duck:
KL Rahul
Ruturaj Gaikwad— mister t-man // srh kaapari (@techsaturation) March 28, 2022
Those who are expected to score runs have failed so far like Ruturaj and KL Rahul.#IPL2022 #LSG #AAVADE#GujaratTitans #LucknowSuperGiants #CricketTwitter
— Ravi Dubey (@itsravidubey) March 28, 2022
Orange Cap Lovers
KL Rahul ? Ruturaj Gaikwad pic.twitter.com/E2rUNmLY0V— Genju Dhewen ?? (@dhewenpopa) March 28, 2022
