IPL 2023 MATCH PREVIEW: LSG v PBKS

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will look to settle the score for their previous loss when they square off against Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 37th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, at Punjab Cricket Association, Mohali, on Friday, April 28th.

Both teams have a similar record in the ongoing tournament, winning four and losing three of the seven matches played so far. However, owing to their better net run rate, the Super Giants have secured the fourth position in the points table, while Punjab Kings are ranked sixth.

Shikhar Dhawan, the regular captain of Punjab Kings, has missed their last few games, and it remains uncertain whether he will play the upcoming match. However, Sam Curran has stepped up in his absence and done an excellent job as both a player and a leader.

Punjab Kings have a formidable batting lineup, which has been further bolstered by the addition of Liam Livingstone, who is yet to hit his stride in the tournament. Meanwhile, Arshdeep Singh has been in threatenings form, taking four wickets in the last match and steering his team to a win against Mumbai Indians.

The likes of Prabhsimran Singh and Jitesh Sharma have also shown flashes of their potential, and they would be keen to put on their efforts in the right direction and maintain their good run of form with the bat. On the other hand, Shahrukh Khan's performances have been patchy, and he needs to step up and take charge of the finisher's role.

As for Lucknow Super Giants, they suffered a narrow two-wicket defeat against Punjab Kings in their last match played at their home ground and they will be eager to even the score in the upcoming match, but it won't be an easy task against the star-studded lineup of Punjab Kings.

Following their gut-wrenching loss to the Gujarat Titans, the Lucknow Super Giants are left with a lot to mull over. The defeat was a bitter pill to swallow for the Super Giants and its fans, who had thought that victory was almost guaranteed until the defending champions pulled off an upset.

The first and foremost thing that LSG needs to do is to get rid of Ayush Badoni and Deepak Hooda, who have been liabilities for the team. Their performances in the middle order have been doing more harm than good. It's time for the team management to think outside the box and give opportunities to other players.

While KL Rahul has been a reliable batter for Lucknow, his strike rate and approach to taking the game deep need some work. To better serve the team, he should focus on providing the team with a solid start alongside Kyle Mayers, while the likes of Nicolas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis can take over the finishing duties.

It's hard to predict who will come out on top in the game as both teams seem to have a balanced squad. However, given that Punjab Kings are playing on their home turf, they may have a slight advantage over Lucknow. That being said, with many Super Giants players boasting stellar records at the Mohali, the game could go either way.

Probable Playing XIs

Lucknow Super Giants:

KL Rahul (c), Kyle Mayers/Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda/Prerak Mankad, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Naveen ul Haq/Mark Wood, Moshin Khan/Amit Mishra.

Punjab Kings:

Atharva Taide/Shikhar Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh, Matt Short/Sikandar Raza, Liam Livingstone, Harpreet Bhatia, Shahrukh Khan, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran (c), Harpreet Brar, Nathan Ellis/Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

Pitch Report

The Mohali pitch has been a fair one, with an equal contest between bat and ball. The pacers, in particular, will relish the conditions, while the spinners could play a key role in the middle overs of the game. Although teams batting first have had more success at this venue this season, the toss-winning team may still choose to bowl first.

Pitch Stats [IPL 2023]

Average 1st inning total: 176
Average 2nd inning total: 150
Matches won by the team batting 1st: 2
Matches won by the team batting 2nd: 1

Head-to-Head

Both teams have had their fair share of successes against each other in the tournament, with a win apiece. In the last season, Lucknow Super Giants defeated Punjab Kings, the tables, however, were turned in the ongoing season's first phase, where Punjab Kings got better off Lucknow Super Giants.

Key Matchups

KL Rahul vs Kagiso Rabada

Runs: 44
Balls: 34
Outs: 2

KL Rahul vs Arshdeep Singh

Runs: 17
Balls: 18
Outs: 1

Shikhar Dhawan vs Ravi Bishnoi

Runs: 36
Balls: 22
Outs: 1

Shikhar Dhawan vs Amit Mishra:

Runs: 39
Balls: 32
Outs: 3

Shikhar Dhawan vs Mark Wood (T20Is):
Runs: 1
Balls: 5
Outs: 1

Nicholas Pooran vs Kagiso Rabada:

Runs: 16
Balls: 15
Outs: 2

Marcus Stoinis vs Rahul Chahar:
Runs: 46
Balls: 18
Out: 1

Form Update (last 5 innings)

Fantasy Picks

KL Rahul, the batting mainstay of Super Giants, has bounced back from a slow start to the season with a string of good performances. Although his strike rate has been a concern, he has managed to score 262 runs in seven matches, including two fifties. Furthermore, his familiarity with the Mohali surface could be an advantage as he aims to score big.

The stand-in captain of Punjab Kings, Sam Curran has impressed one and all with his all-round performances in the last few matches. He has been in great form with the bat and ball, scoring 142 runs and taking five wickets in the tournament so far. He was adjudged Man of the Match for his match-winning performance against Mumbai Indians in the last game.

After a sluggish start to the tournament, Arshdeep Singh has hit top gear with his bowling for Punjab Kings. He was in sensational form in the last match against Mumbai Indians, picking up four wickets and breaking two stumps in quick succession. With 13 wickets in five appearances, he is leading the bowling charts for his team.

Lucknow Super Giants' leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi had an off-day in the last match against Gujarat Titans as he was taken to the cleaners by Gujarat Titans' batters. Heading into this game, he will be looking to put that behind him and come back stronger. Overall, he has picked up eight wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 7.77.

Fantasy XI