🏏IPL 2024: Match 48 - LSG vs MI in Lucknow @ 7:30PM IST🏏

🏏IPL 2024: Match 48 - LSG vs MI in Lucknow @ 7:30PM IST🏏

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will take on Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 30 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. LSG, having won five out of nine matches, are currently at number five on the points table. They have won two out of their last five matches.

Mumbai have won three of their nine matches and are sitting at number nine on the points table. MI have also won two out of their last five matches. April 30 happens to be former MI skipper Rohit Sharma's birthday. The star batter will turn 37 tomorrow.

[Tag Credit: Sutapasima]

Big picture - MI let down by overseas seamers

After two defeats in their last two games, MI's playoff chances have nosedived, and if they lose on Tuesday, they will be in the same boat as Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Before the season started, MI looked one of the stronger sides despite being thin in the spin department. Somehow, that has not translated into performances, and a big reason behind that is their overseas fast bowlers' struggles.

Jason Behrendorff and Dilshan Madushanka were ruled out with injuries even before the tournament started. Their replacements - Luke Wood and Kwena Maphaka - failed to meet the expectations. Nuwan Thushara has gone for 12 an over in the two games he has played, without any wicket to show for it. Gerald Coetzee, who has 12 wickets in eight games, has also run hot and cold, and has an economy of 10.10. All that has left Jasprit Bumrah with too much to do.

While LSG are also coming off a defeat, they are in a much better position on the points table. A win against MI could even propel them to second position. Apart from the advantage of playing at home, they will be boosted by the return of Mayank Yadav, who has passed all his fitness tests

Form guide

Lucknow Super Giants LWWLL (last five matches, most recent first) 

Mumbai Indians LLWLW

Team news and impact player strategy

Lucknow Super Giants

Matt Henry may have to make way for Mayank. That will also allow LSG to bring in Ashton Turner for an out-of-form Devdutt Padikkal.

Depending on whether LSG are batting first or bowling, one of Ayush Badoni and Yash Thakur could be the Impact Player.

Probable XII 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 3 Marcus Stoinis, 4 Deepak Hooda, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Ashton Turner, 7 Ayush Badoni, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Mayank Yadav, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Mohsin Khan, 12 Yash Thakur

Mumbai Indians

MI can consider bringing in Kumar Kartikeya for Luke Wood, especially if the pitch is on the slower side. Suryakumar Yadav (if bowling first) and Nuwan Thushara (if batting first) could be their Impact Player options.

Probable XII 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Nehal Wadhera, 7 Tim David, 8 Mohammad Nabi, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Kumar Kartikeya/Luke Wood, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Nuwan Thushara

In the spotlight - Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav

Quinton de Kock started IPL 2024 with a bang, scoring two fifties in the first three games. But since then he has struggled for consistency and has crossed 20 only once in six innings. Given LSG have not been able to score freely in the powerplay - their run rate of 8.38 is the second-worst in that phase this season - they need de Kock to be at his best soon.

Suryakumar Yadav was expected to revive MI's fortunes after his return from the injury. While his 166 in six innings so far, at a strike rate of 171.13, are not bad returns, both the runs per innings and strike rate are down by around 10 compared to last season. He has had two 50-plus scores but has made only 36 runs in the other four innings, including two ducks. As MI fight for survival, Suryakumar will have a key role to play.

Stats that matter

• Rohit Sharma has fallen to Amit Mishra eight times in T20s while scoring only 87 runs in 92 balls. Only Sunil Narine has dismissed Rohit more number of times(nine). 
• Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed Marcus Stoinis four times in 44 balls while giving away just 42 runs. 
• Mohammad Nabi has managed to keep Nicholas Pooran quiet: 45 runs in 43 balls, one dismissal. Nabi has been equally frugal against de Kock - 32 runs in 28 balls - even though he has never dismissed him.
• Ravi Bishhnoi has troubled Ishan Kishan (21 runs off as many balls, three dismissals) and Tim David (17 off 23, two dismissals). But Hardik Pandya has taken him for 55 runs in 25 balls and Tilak Varma 38 in 20. Neither has got out to him even once.
• Hardik has managed only 14 runs in 23 balls (one dismissal) against his brother Krunal.

Thank you Parm for the thread and for tagging me.  

Best wishes to both the teams. 

Pitch and conditions

In five games so far in Lucknow, no team has been able to breach 200. Given LSG have a better spin attack than Mumbai, it will not be a surprise if the pitch for Tuesday's game is on the slower side.

Today’s Match Prediction: Lucknow Super Giants to win the match

Scenario 1  

Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and bowl

Power Play score – 55-65

First Innings Score - 180-190

Lucknow Super Giants win the match

Scenario 2

Mumbai Indians win the toss and bowl

Power Play score - 70-80

First Innings Score - 210-220

Lucknow Super Giants win the match

LKN vs MI: Top five player battles to watch out for

1. KL Rahul vs Jasprit Bumrah

KL Rahul is the only batter who has scored three centuries against MI in the IPL. He is also in good form, so it will be important to stop him. Hence, MI might try their best bowler against him. Jasprit Bumrah and Rahul have crossed paths many times in the IPL. Rahul has scored 143 runs off 112 balls against him, while Bumrah has dismissed him twice. This battle can define the result of the game.

2. Rohit Sharma vs Matt Henry

Rohit Sharma has registered two low scores in the last couple of matches, and it is important for MI for him to score runs at the top. However, it can become even more difficult against Matt Henry with the new ball. Henry has dismissed Rohit twice in ODIs, including one in the 2019 World Cup semi-final. So it will be a great battle between two stars in the coming game.

3. Hardik Pandya vs Krunal Pandya

It will be a great battle when two brothers are up against each other. These two have had average seasons so far, but there is always competition when you play against each other’s brother. Hence, these two will look to do well in this battle. Krunal has an upper hand in this match-up. He has bowled 23 balls to Hardik and dismissed him once by only giving away only 14 runs in the IPL.

4. Suryakumar Yadav vs Ravi Bishnoi

Suryakumar Yadav is a match-winner who can change the game in any situation. Until he is at the crease, there will be a big chance for MI. But he hasn’t had a good record against LSG leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, so it will be a good match-up. SKY has only scored 39 runs off 32 balls at a strike rate of 121.9, while Bishnoi has already dismissed him three times in the IPL.

5. Quinton de Kock vs Piyush Chawla

Quinton de Kock was part of MI from the 2019 to the 2022 edition, and now he will be up against his former team. He has good numbers against MI in the IPL. But his numbers aren’t that good against Piyush Chawla. The leg-spinner has bowled 14 balls at him, given away nine runs, and already dismissed him two times in the IPL. So he will fancy his chances once again in the coming LKN vs MI clash.