In the upcoming IPL 2024 clash, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face off against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. Lucknow is reeling from a recent loss to the Rajasthan Royals, while Punjab succumbed to defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Lucknow’s bowlers, apart from Krunal Pandya, struggled to contain the opposition in their previous match. With key players like Mark Wood and David Willey absent, the team’s pace attack appears fragile, relying heavily on Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Yash Thakur. Ravi Bishnoi, aiming for a spot in the T20 World Cup squad, also underperformed in the team’s opening fixture.
Captain KL Rahul, adopting the role of wicketkeeper-batsman with an eye on the T20 World Cup, scored 58 runs in his comeback game and aims to build on that performance. He relies on opening partner Quinton de Kock to return to form after missing out in the previous match. Lucknow pins its hopes on players like Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, and Krunal Pandya to deliver in the middle order.
WATCH – Venkatesh Iyer’s Towering 106-Meter Six Powers KKR Against RCB
Punjab, with a mixed record so far, won one and lost one match. Captain Shikhar Dhawan’s team seeks improved powerplay performances, especially if Jonny Bairstow finds his rhythm after two underwhelming outings. Dhawan acknowledges the need to accelerate his scoring rate, having batted cautiously in the previous match against Bangalore. Prabhsimran Singh, despite promising starts, has yet to capitalize on his opportunities. All-rounder Sam Curran displayed batting prowess, but his bowling has been inconsistent.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
LSG put up a strong fight in their recent match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR). However, despite their commendable effort, they fell short of victory due to several notable weaknesses. Their bowlers struggled, particularly with the new ball, allowing Rajasthan’s batsmen to establish a solid foundation and post a daunting total. Furthermore, apart from standout performances by KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran, Lucknow’s batting lineup failed to show the necessary resilience and determination needed to chase down the target.
Probable XI: KL Rahul (c), Quinton De Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Amit Mishra, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Under the captaincy of Shikhar Dhawan, the Punjab Kings showcased resilience in their initial fixtures. They secured a victory against the Delhi Capitals (DC) but faced defeat against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Throughout both matches, Punjab struggled with their death bowling, a recurring issue that was somewhat masked in the Delhi game but exploited by RCB, particularly under the leadership of Dinesh Karthik, to their advantage.
Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Matthew Short, Prabsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar, Sam Curran
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Lokesh Rahul (vc), Nicholas Pooran, Jitesh Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Marcus Stoinis, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran (c), Kagiso Rabada, Naveen ul Haq, Ravi Bishnoi
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Lokesh Rahul, Nicholas Pooran (vc), Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Marcus Stoinis, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Krunal Pandya, Kagiso Rabada, Naveen ul Haq, Ravi Bishnoi
