Match 3 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 will be played between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) take on the Delhi Capitals (DC) in the former’s first-ever home game at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Saturday, April 1. Under the captaincy of KL Rahul, LSG finished fourth in their debut campaign last year. They have not tampered much with their squad, which boasts plenty of all-rounders.
LSG’s major acquisition at the IPL 2023 mini-auction came in the form of Nicholas Pooran while they released Jason Holder and Dushmanta Chameera as well. LSG is also bolstered by the presence of speedster Mark Wood, who missed last season entirely due to injury.
DC, on the other hand, will have to make do without Rishabh Pant for the entire IPL 2023 campaign. Veteran opener David Warner has been entrusted to lead the side which has also made minor changes to its setup after its fifth-placed finish in IPL 2022. The two relatively evenly matched sides will be eager to get off to a winning start in IPL 2023 and gather momentum as early as possible.
On that note, Here are three player battles to watch out for in the upcoming riveting contest in Lucknow.
#1 David Warner vs Mark Wood
David Warner will have a pivotal role to play in the franchise’s proceedings this season. He is expected to forge a crucial pairing with Prithvi Shaw at the top of the order. LSG will be on the lookout to negate the threat posed by David Warner early on and will be keen to unleash their pacer Mark Wood on the veteran Aussie batter.
The head-to-head record between the two overseas stars is interesting, to say the least. The Australian opener has amassed 31 runs off 21 deliveries by Wood in T20s, losing his wicket once to the English fast bowler, out of the two outings they have come across each other. A lot rests on Wood as an early wicket might expose DC’s in experienced middle order.
#2 Nicholas Pooran vs Kuldeep Yadav
While Nicholas Pooran is among the best players of spin in West Indies, he is particularly shaky against left-arm wrist spin. DC will be very keen to exploit this match-up, with statistics being greatly in the favor of Kuldeep Yadav. The Indian wrist spinner has got the better of Pooran on several occasions.
Having only faced 16 balls, Pooran has already lost his wicket twice to Kuldeep and has only scored 15 runs in the process. Kuldeep will be thrust into the attack right after the powerplay and Pooran will have to overcome this major obstacle if he wishes to make a memorable debut with his new IPL franchise.
#3 Rovman Powell vs Ravi Bishnoi
Out of Ravi Bishnoi’s 16 T20I wickets so far, three have been in the form of Rovman Powell, and that oscillates the momentum entirely towards the emerging leg-spinner. Additionally, Bishnoi also got the all-rounder’s wicket during the previous edition of the IPL. Powell has risen among the ranks and is in impeccable form as well. However, his form will be tested as an old match-up comes to greet him. Powell has faced 34 deliveries from Bishnoi, losing his wicket to him four times (three in T20Is and one in IPL) in T20s.
