In their last fixture against PBKS at Mohali, Lucknow registered the highest score in the IPL. They would aim to continue the same momentum in their upcoming fixture against RCB. On the other hand, RCB is coming into this clash on the back of a loss against KKR. They were handed a target of 200 runs & despite a settled batting lineup in place they failed to chase the target within the alotted 20 overs. Their batting order is too much dependent on Virat Kohli, Faf Du Plessis, & Maxwell. And if anyone of them fails to deliver the entire batting order collapses. They need to address their batting order issues if winning this fixture against a competent LSG is their target.
Lucknow Super Giants Preview
Lucknow looks like a quite settled unit with Kyle Mayers providing the team an ideal start at the top order. Their middle order also doesn’t disappoint with Badoni, Stoinis & Pooran scoring crucial runs to guide the team to a decent total. However, KL Rahul’s strike rate is an issue for the side & he would look ahead to address it with the second phase of the league already begun.
In the bowling department, LSG has a settled unit with Mark Wood & Avesh Khan with the onus of returning crucial wickets. Naveen-Ul-Haq will be their top bowler against RCB. While Bishnoi & Pandya too would aim to scalp early wickets through their spin attack.
Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview
RCB is going through a lean phase & they need to bounce back to winning terms if marching into the playoffs is their motto. In their previous clash against KKR, their middle order failed drastically to return with crucial runs. Dinesh Karthik & Shahbaz Ahmed needs to step up & amass crucial runs in the middle order. Their top order comprising Plessis, Virat & Maxwell should bounce back to form & score runs at the top order. While Virat & Lomror who were in their absolute best in their previous clash should aim at playing a bigger knock in their vital fixture against Bangalore.
In the bowling department, Mohammed Siraj who has been their biggest strength in the ongoing matches should return with crucial scalps in this fixture as well. While Harshal Patel & Wanindu Hasaranga could get good results at the slow pitch of Ekana Stadium.
LSG vs RCB Predicted Playing XIs:
Lucknow Super Giants
KL Rahul (c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Yash Thakur
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli (c), Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suyash Prabhudessai, Wanindu Hasaranga, David Willey, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj
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