Lucknow Super Giants( LSG) will host Delhi Capitals( DC) in today’s IPL match at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. The night match is scheduled to start at 7:30 PM IST. The LSG will be high in confidence after winning their last three matches in the tournament. Their last win against the Gujarat Titans was accredited to the spinners who successfully defended 163-run target. The bowling trio of Ravi Bishnoi, Krunal Pandya and M Siddharth played a crucial role in the match and claimed 4 wickets between them.
As Delhi Capitals (DC) get into the den of Lucknow Super Giants( LSG), a similar surface is expected in this match which will test Capitals on a spinning track.
LSG vs DC Previous match performances.
After losing the curtain-raiser against the Rajasthan Royals by 20 runs, LSG has been in good form, winning three consecutive games, two of which came at home. In their last game against Gujarat Titans, young Yash Thakur picked up a fifer to take his team home, winning the game by 33 runs.
On the other hand, DC is currently reeling at the bottom of the points table. In five games played so far the Rishabh Pant-led side has managed to win only one game. Though the team has had some good individual performances, the side has failed to get results in their favor.
LSG vs DC Head-to-Head Record
Lucknow Super Giants have a thumping 3-0 lead over Delhi Capitals.
LSG vs DC Pitch conditions
It is expected to be hot and humid in Lucknow and Langer said they would play on a black-soil pitch against Capitals. That could mean another slow, spin-friendly surface, like the one on which LSG scored a convincing victory against Titans. The opening home game for LSG saw a refreshing surface that aided strokeplay.
There was a good level of pace and bounce in that deck, allowing batters to express themselves. However, the pitch used for the GT game was more like the Ekana surface of last season when the average score batting first was just 148. Depending on whether it’s a black soil or red soil deck, the nature of the pitch will change, although it’s likely to be another sporting surface where the bowlers will be in the game throughout.
The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has historically been known for its two-paced and slow pitch, which often leads to relatively low-scoring matches. This trend is expected to continue when the stadium hosts its third match of IPL 2024 match on Friday. The team that wins the toss will be looking to bat first.
LSG vs DC Big picture – Spin to win again
Lucknow Super Giants started the season with a defeat, but have won three on the bounce since. Their most recent victory came against Gujarat Titans on a spin-friendly pitch at home. LSG’s spinners were central to that result – Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi and M Siddharth combined for figures of 10-0-48-4 to help defend 163 – and they could consider laying out a similar surface on Friday, especially against the visiting Delhi Capitals.
Batting has been a struggle for the Capitals this season. Their collective average of 23.35 is the lowest among all teams, and they have had to deal with the absence of key players like Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Marsh due to injuries. So that doubles Capitals’ worries: a misfiring batting line-up on a potentially spin-friendly pitch, and Capitals have the second lowest batting average against spin (28.44) this season behind Kolkata Knight Riders.
Unlike LSG, Capitals come into the contest having lost their previous two games and are at the bottom of the table with just one win in their first five matches. And they are still looking for their first win against LSG, having lost all three of their matches so far.
Team news and Impact Player strategy
Fast bowler Mayank Yadav had walked off the field after bowling one over in their last game, against Titans. LSG said he will have his workload managed over the coming week as a “precaution”, and head coach Justin Langer all but ruled him out of the next two games. LSG also continue to wait on the fitness of Mohsin, who had a sore hamstring and missed his side’s last two games.
In the spotlight – Nicholas Pooran and Tristan Stubbs
Nicholas Pooran is LSG’s top run-scorer so far this season – 178 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 169.52. He has been especially impactful in the death overs, where his six-hitting abilities takes his strike rate up to 180. Pooran has been dismissed only once so far this season, and holds the key to LSG getting a strong finish to their innings.
Tristan Stubbs has been Capitals’ best batter this season. He is their top-scorer with 174 runs and has been particularly good against spin. His strike rate of 207 against the spinners is the highest for anyone who has faced at least 35 balls, so he will be key against LSG’s spinners on the day.
Vital Stats that matter
. In the IPL, Quinton de Kock’s combined record against Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel and Khaleel Ahmed stands at 193 runs at an average of 64.33. All four are expected to start for Capitals against LSG on Friday. Ishant, Nortje and Axar have got de Kock once each, with Khaleel yet to dismiss him.
. At 13.43, Nortje has the highest economy rate for any bowler to have bowled at least 90 balls this season. Umesh Yadav, second on the list, has conceded at 10.55 per over.
. Since 2022, LSG have won nine of their 18 home games, the third highest win-loss ratio among all teams. By contrast, DC have won only six out of 17 away games, the fewest by any team
Probable Playing XIs
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (C & WK), Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mayank Yadav
Impact Player – Manimaran Siddharth
Delhi Capitals (DC):
David Warner, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Abhishek Porel, Axar Patel, Lalit Yadav, Jhye Richardson, Anrich Nortje, Khaleel Ahmed, Mukesh Kumar
Impact Player – Ishant Sharma
Fantasy Playing XI : David Warner, Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (C & WK),Rishabh Pant, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, Mukesh Kumar, Khaleel Ahmed.
LSG vs DC- Probable Best Players of the Match
Probable Best Batter
KL Rahul: With 126 runs in four matches, LSG skipper KL Rahul could be the best batter of match 26 of IPL 2024. He seems to have found his form back with the bat and would be looking to continue being the best form in a fixture where LSG has dominated – winning all three of their games.
Probable Best Bowler
Mayank Yadav: He could be the best bowler of match 26 of IPL 2024, having bowled his side to victory by providing two consecutive Player of the Match performances in his first two matches in the IPL. In the last game against Gujarat Titans, the pacer just bowled one over as he walked off the field. Yadav who has had such great performances in the previous matches will be looking to return to field and bowl yet another exceptional spell if he plays.
LSG vs DC – Match Prediction
Scenario 1
Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and opt to bat.
Powerplay score: 45-55
First innings score: 165-175
Lucknow Super Giants win the match.
Scenario 2
Delhi Capitals win the toss and opt to bat.
Powerplay score: 35-45
First innings score: 155-165
Lucknow Super Giants win the match.