🏏IPL 2024:Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings,M-34-Lucknow🏏

🏏Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings, 34th Match-  Lucknow🏏

Bullet Credit:Wildestdreams

~~~~

Revival and continuance - those are the words that'll underline the objectives of Lucknow Super Giants and Chennai Super Kings respectively as both teams gear up for the clash at the Ekana Stadium which will complete half their league stage journey. 

After a couple of losses, CSK regained traction thanks to their two back-to-back victories and are sitting pretty in the third position. 

Although LSG are still placed in the top half of the points table, a couple of losses have threatened to derail their campaign and they'll be eager to get back on track knowing well that sides below them can catch up quickly if there are any more missteps.

After registering a comprehensive win over their arch-rivals Mumbai Indians, defending champions Chennai Super Kings will now turn their attention to their next encounter against the Lucknow Super Giants at Ekana Sports City Centre, Lucknow, today. The latter are struggling to find their rhythm back after having been outplayed in their last two encounters as they will be looking to bounce back with a win. 

The Yellow Army had a memorable outing against MI on Sunday. Skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and Shivam Dube propelled the team to a healthy 206-run total before CSK’s ace pacer Matheesha Pathirana spoiled the party for the five-time former champions by picking four crucial wickets.

The Lucknow Super Giants, who are currently placed at no.5 in the points table, will be seeking momentum from their batting order after loose performances against the Delhi Capitals and the Kolkata Knight Riders.

Tags credit:Sutapasima

LSG vs CSK Pitch Report

The Ekana stadium is considered a tricky surface to bat on with the ball holding up a little. It is also known to help the spinners and medium-paced bowlers. Out of the 10 games played at this venue, only three encounters have been won by the team playing second. However, the Delhi Capitals got the better of the Lucknow Super Giants in their last encounter while chasing. The average first innings score at this venue has been 160 runs. With the hosts their last encounter on home soil, it will be crucial for them to register a win against the defending champions.

What to expect: In the three matches played here in this edition so far, 200 hasn't been crossed even once. LSG managed to defend 199 and 163 but failed in their defence of 167 against DC who reached the target comfortably. Pacers have had more success here in this IPL, having picked up 27 wickets at an average of 24.11 compared to 11 for spinners at 31.09.

Both teams have met each other on three occasions over the past two years years and have been able to secure one win each, while one match ended in no result. The last meeting saw CSK winning over the Super Giants. The duo will meet at the Ekana Stadium for the first time after their previous meeting at this venue was abandoned. 

As per the Google Win Predictor, the Chennai Super Kings have a 56% chance of prevailing over LSG while the KL Rahul led-side is at 44%.

IPL 2024 is probably MS Dhoni's swansong year, with many fans and experts expecting the India legend to retire from all forms of cricket after the ongoing season. The wicketkeeper-batter handed away captaincy to opener Ruturaj Gaikwad prior to IPL 2024, and has remained a key figure in his side's playing XI.

Speaking on Dhoni's impact, South Africa legend Dale Steyn said, "Not only has it engulfed the IPL. That's engulfed many South Africa and myself, to be honest with you, I don't watch a lot of TV, but I seem to be glued to the seat when the IPL is on my girlfriend says that my TV is broken, it's stuck on cricket right now IPL and watching MS the other night. That's exactly what we want to do."

"You know, I've been on the receiving end of it before. I've watched it from a fan's point of view, I loved it. I mean, I am a much better mood because of what I've just seen. So can we get more of MS Dhoni out in the middle? That would be great," he further added.

Team watch:

Lucknow Super Giants

Injuries & Availability: LSG recently posted a video of Mayank Yadav resuming bowling in a practice session under the supervision of head coach Justin Langer. This is a promising sign for the team which has not lost a match in this IPL whenever Mayank has played a full game.

Tactics & Matchups: Ruturaj Gaikwad has been dismissed thrice by left-arm pacers in this IPL and averages 10.67 against them, which makes Mohsin Khan an important matchup option for LSG. Considering Rachin Ravindra's struggle against spin - three dismissals in 16 balls - LSG could look at an early introduction for Ravi Bishnoi. Meanwhile, KL Rahul has a favourable matchup against left-arm pace, which could help LSG counter the Mustafizur Rahman challenge.

Probable XI: Quinton de Kock/Kyle Mayers, KL Rahul (c/wk), Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Shamar Joseph, Yash Thakur/Mayank Yadav. [Impact sub: Arshad Khan/M Siddharth]

Chennai Super Kings

Injuries & Availability: Devon Conway has been officially ruled out of the IPL. CSK have roped in Richard Gleeson as his replacement. Ajinkya Rahane had a niggle in the previous game, which forced CSK to send him as an opener. It's not clear if he has regained full fitness.

Tactics & Matchups: Spin could play a crucial role for CSK when Marcus Stoinis comes out to bat, considering the Australian has been dismissed by spinners five times in this IPL and averages only 10.2 against them. Quinton de Kock and Ayush Badoni being dismissed four and three times respectively by a left-arm pacer in this IPL makes Mustafizur a good option against them. CSK could also look at bringing in Moeen Ali for Daryl Mitchell as the England all-rounder has a good bowling record against LSG - 6 wickets in 3 matches at an average of 8.83 and an economy of 5.88. Four of those wickets came in CSK's home match against LSG last year. Shardul Thakur could be a good option against Nicholas Pooran, having dismissed him five times in 18 balls in T20 cricket.

Probable XI: Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Moeen Ali/Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi , MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman. [Impact sub: Matheesha Pathirana].

Did you know?

- CSK's opening stands average 27.16 in this IPL, putting them eighth among the 10 teams. LSG are below CSK with KL Rahul & Quinton de Kock averaging 24.16 while RR (20.29) average the least

- Since the start of the last IPL, no team has lost more wickets to left-arm pace than LSG's 32. KKR are next with 30 dismissals against left-arm pacers

- Since IPL 2023, Matheesha Pathirana has picked up 20 wickets in the death overs (16-20), the joint most alongside Mohit Sharma. Pathirana's economy rate of 8.21 is also the best in this phase (Min.20 overs)

What they said

"(We're) not panicking but you can't put your feet up and hope results go your way. We have to figure out where you are going wrong. We will have a few difficult conversations. The last couple of games, we have not been able to get more than 160 and that is something to think about, and see how we can get to the 180-200 run mark" - KL Rahul, after the loss to KKR.

Match Prediction 

Head to head: 1-1

LSG had a good track record of defending totals in the IPL, having never lost a game once they posted 160-plus. But that has changed now. Their inability to defend two 160-plus totals in successive games in an edition where the paradigm of totals has shifted totally, puts the spotlight on their batting. 

Quinton de Kock is due for runs, KL Rahul has got a couple of 30s but has failed to carry on, Marcus Stoinis hasn't fired as well, and LSG's No.3 woes have been eternal. While some of the other sides have been firing on all cylinders with their batting and setting new benchmarks, LSG have fallen behind and they need to bridge the gap soon.

CSK have sufficient depth, personnel and balance in their batting department, which is why they have won more often than they lost.

 Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top and Shivam Dube in the middle order have been consistently amongst the runs but they'll be hoping for Rachin Ravindra and Ajinkya Rahane to get going as well. The bowling has also worked well for CSK. The pacemen with their variety have stood up, as has the spin department.