IPL 2024: Can LSG ace the CSK challenge in Lucknow?
Lucknow Super Giants will aim to return to winning ways as they host the high-flying Chennai Super Kings in Match 34 of the 2024 Indian Premier League. LSG, who suffered defeats in the last two fixtures, have three wins in six games this season. The Super Kings have also played the same number of matches but have one more victory. Here is the preview.
Pitch report, conditions, and streaming details
Lucknow's Ekana Cricket Stadium will host this duel on April 19 (7:30pm IST). This venue is known for its slow tracks. While the seamers cash in on the red-soil pitches, the black-soil decks support spinners. Notably, the latter makes the run-scoring difficult. Star Sports will telecast the match, and fans can also live-stream it on JioCinema for free.
Here is the head-to-head record
LSG made their IPL debut in 2022 and have faced the five-time winners CSK only thrice. The head-to-head record reads 1-1 as one of their games last season got abandoned due to rain. Meanwhile, LSG have won two of their three home fixtures this year. CSK have lost two of their three away games in IPL 2024.
Can LSG ace the CSK challenge?
The presence of multiple all-rounders in the CSK makes the Yellow Brigade a formidable force. While most of their batters have been among the runs, Matheesha Pathirana and Mustafizur Rahman have been sensational with the ball. Meanwhile, speedster Mayank Yadav's absence hurt LSG in their last two outings. Team skipper KL Rahul has thrown away several starts this year.
Here are the probable XIs
LSG (Probable XI): Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c & wk), Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Shamar Joseph, Yash Thakur. Impact sub: Manimaran Siddharth. CSK (Probable XI): Rachin Ravindra, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Daryl Mitchell, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Sameer Rizvi, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Mustafizur Rahman. Impact sub: Matheesha Pathirana.
Here are the key players
Shivam Dube has an average and strike rate of 60.50 and 163.51, respectively, in IPL 2024. Pathirana's tally of 20 IPL wickets in the last five overs is the joint-most for any bowler since 2023. Nicholas Pooran has been striking at 161.59 in IPL 2024. His average is also an impressive 74.33. Yash Thakur claimed a match-winning fifer versus GT a few days back.
