RCB vs LSG: Will KL Rahul Play as Captain Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2024 Match 15?

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KL Rahul returns to M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru as Lucknow Super Giants take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru in match 15 of IPL 2024 on Tuesday (April 2), but his role in the team is still undecided.

Rahul, who captained LSG in the season opener against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, played as an impact player in the home game against the Punjab Kings (PBKS), with Nicholas Pooran taking over the role of the captain.

LSG management is keen to "ease him back into the side" after the 31-year-old had suffered a quadricep injury, forcing him to miss the final four Tests of a five-match series against England at home earlier this year just ahead of the IPL 2024.

Rahul had suffered the same injury - against RCB during IPL 2023 and had to undergo surgery followed by extensive rehabilitation before he made his return later in the year during the Asia Cup 2023. So, LSG is also cautious with how they use Rahul.

Will KL Rahul return as captain or continue in Impact Player role vs RCB?

LSG has one win and one loss in two games, with Rahul scoring 58 off 44 balls in defeat to Rajasthan Royals and 15 off 9 in victory over Punjab Kings. Rahul also kept wickets in the opening match despite the presence of two other specialists for that position in the 11.

Pooran and Quinton de Kock keep wickets for different teams, but Rahul donned the gloves in the game against Rajasthan Royals. However, with Rahul playing only as an Impact sub, De Kock took over the role in the match against PBKS.

Whether Rahul continues in the same capacity or return to lead the side against RCB on Tuesday (April 2) will be a late call as per his deputy Pooran.

"We'll see how he goes at training," stand-in captain Nicholas Pooran said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. "It's always tough when you have to change combinations. Obviously, it's different with KL on the field.

"But our senior players came together and assisted me in making decisions as well. It's something that happens. Sometimes when your captain isn't available, all the senior players stand up, and try and make up for his absence," Pooran said on how Rahul's absence on the field had affected Lucknow so far in the tournament.

On his return to his home turf in Bengaluru, Rahul is likley to continue as an Impact substitute with Naveen-ul-Haq coming in to replace him and Pooran set to lead the team.

Rahul has a decent record at the venue, where he has scored 326 runs in 13 innings, including 2 fifties. So, LSG will be satisfied with their regular skipper being used just as a batter as he's being eased into the side after injuries have hampered his appearance for the last year.

LSG will look to repeat feat from last season when they stunned RCB by chasing down 213 with 1 wicket in hand in the final delivery of the match. Pooran and Marcus Stoinis smashed quick-fire sixties in LSG's last outing in Bengaluru.