Preview by Ghcalive Staff
In T20s, anchors may no longer be fashionable, but when KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are squaring up against one another, the conditions better apply to the match. And the scene is set for it in Lucknow. The teams will face off on a used black-soil surface on Saturday in the afternoon, so anyone trying to keep track of sixes might want to look elsewhere.
At this stage of their campaign, Gujarat Titans wouldn’t mind such circumstances. They have struggled to hold onto totals this season, losing both of their games, and have frequently been defeated by teams that outmuscle them with heavy hits. Instead, Lucknow might use this field and the nearly similar ground measurements on both sides of the square to their advantage, which is limiting the amount of dot balls. The defending champions also have a five-day break coming up, providing them a fresh perspective on what has been, at best, an erratic season. And what better club to open against than LSG, whom they defeated the previous season to become the first team to reach the Play-offs.
The Lucknow Super Giants have the chance to build on their outstanding victory in Jaipur. Kyle Mayers performed admirably under pressure on a slow field at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, scoring his fifty at an unusually high strike rate of 120. Avesh Khan’s breakthrough performance couldn’t have come at a better time for LSG, who play three of their next four games at home. It was also the game where Avesh Khan’s season really got going. They would welcome the opportunity to begin it with their first-ever triumph over GT, a team they failed to defeat in two tries the previous season.
When : LSG vs GT, Match 30, IPL 2023 at 3:30 PM local
Where : Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
PITCH REPORT
This season, the ground at Lucknow’s Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium has favoured the bowlers. The average first innings score in the last five T20 matches played here has been 126 runs. It’s going to be a close race.
What to expect: an attrition game. The game will feature a different set of dynamics because it is being played on square pitch #6. We have seen 193 playing 143, 121 playing 127, and 159 playing 161 in the first three IPL games played here, so we have no idea what scores to expect in this match. The curators are doing their best to get by this season before looking at long-term solutions, but it is recognised that the square is extremely dry.
Fortunately for the athletes, Lucknow’s temperatures have recently dropped, but that doesn’t mean an afternoon game wouldn’t put the athletes through their paces.
Teams
Lucknow Super Giants
It appears doubtful that Quinton de Kock would get a chance after Mayers’ fifty in the most recent game despite the fact that he batted alongside KL Rahul during practise. Given that Naveen-ul-Haq started the afternoon game well in Mark Wood’s absence, he is unlikely to play the morning game either. Mark Wood missed the previous game in Jaipur. When bowling to players like Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, and Yashasvi Jaiswal on his IPL debut, the Afghanistan bowler appeared unflappable, and he will be eager to replicate that at home..
Matchups & tactic : Kyle Mayers needs to perform admirably to defeat Joshua Little’s challenge because he strikes at under 89 versus left-arm pacers.
Probable XI: KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ravi Bishnoi
Gujarat Titans
Vijay Shankar has experienced back spasms on and off and even missed the most recent game. If healthy, he should replace Abhinav Manohar straight away.
Matchups & tactic : Rashid Khan, who has already removed KL Rahul three times, is likely to bowl to him in the PowerPlay. Against the legspinner, the LSG opener strikes at a rate of 60 and averages 6.
Probable XI: Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar/Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma/Noor Ahmad (Impact Player)
Did you realise?
LSG lost their most recent match to GT after being dismissed for 82 runs in just 14 overs.Avesh Khan has had success against Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, getting both hitters out twice. KL Rahul vs. Mohammed Shami in the IPL: 18 balls, 13 runs, 2 dismissals.
What they said:
“Since the IPL is currently in play, that is what I am concentrating on. Everyone wants to represent India on the pitch, but it’s best to remain in the moment and concentrate on the competition and the current game. I don’t even make plans for the upcoming game in the IPL. Rahul Tewatia.
If you were watching the IPL, you wouldn’t want eleven men to perform simultaneously. He will succeed because he is our senior batter and one of our essential players in crucial matches. These IPL-experienced players will catch up with seven to eight games left. Morning Morkel
Squads:
Lucknow Super Giants Squad: KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ravi Bishnoi, Amit Mishra, Jaydev Unadkat, Manan Vohra, Mark Wood, Quinton de Kock, Krishnappa Gowtham, Swapnil Singh, Prerak Mankad, Yash Thakur, Daniel Sams, Romario Shepherd, Karan Sharma, Mayank Yadav
Gujarat Titans Squad: Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya(c), Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Pradeep Sangwan, Matthew Wade, Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Dasun Shanaka, Srikar Bharat, Joshua Little, Odean Smith, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Shivam Mavi, Darshan Nalkande, Urvil Patel, Yash Dayal
Check Here:-Who will prevail in the IPL game between Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans, 30th Match
