The high-flying IPL debutant Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will challenge the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, scheduled to be played on Wednesday (May 25) at the iconic Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
The KL Rahul-led side played a good quality of cricket in their debut season and finished third in the points table with 9 wins from 14 games. Equipped with the lethal bowling attack and potential all-rounders, Lucknow Super Giants will aim to give it a final shot to take a step closer to the finals.
On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore finished off their league stage campaign in fourth place courtesy of a victory over the Gujarat Titans. Mumbai Indians' win over Delhi Capitals further cleared the way for men-in-red to seal a playoff berth.
With both teams eyeing a crucial win, we should be in for an entertaining game of cricket to kick start at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
Match Details:
Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Eliminator
Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Date & Time: 25th May at 7:30 PM IST & Local Time
Live Streaming: Star Sports Network and Disney+Hotstar
Pitch Report: The pitch at the Eden Gardens is good for batting. The new ball comes nicely onto the bat, and batters can easily deposit the ball in the stands. In addition, the fast bowlers will enjoy the extra pace and bounce off the surface, while spinners will dominate the middle overs. All in all, it's a good surface to bat on, and a high-scoring game should ensue.
Pitch Stats:
Total Matches: 11
Matches Won Batting First: 5
Matches Won Bowling First: 6
Average 1st Inning Score: 155
Average 2nd Inning Score: 136
Head-To-Head:
Faf du Plessis-led side handed Lucknow Super Giants an 18 runs defeat in their previous face-off in the season. Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis led from the front and smacked 96 runs to propel RCB to a score of 181/6. LSG, in reply, could manage only 163 runs in the 20 overs. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers for RCB, bagging four wickets in the match.
Injury Update/Players' Availability:
Lucknow Super Giants: Krunal Pandya, who missed the previous game for LSG due to a niggle is expected to make a comeback in the playing eleven.
Dushmantha Chameera might be brought back by the team as well.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Mohammad Siraj might replace Siddharth Kaul in the playing eleven.
Key Match-Ups:
Kohli vs Holder: 66/3 at 183
Kohli vs Avesh: 5/1 at 62 SR
DK vs Krunal: 24/2 at 85 SR
Faf vs Holder: 74/3 at 154 SR
Maxwell vs Krunal: 41/2 at 124 SR
De Kock vs Hazlewood: 12/2 at 100 SR
Key Performers:
Lucknow skipper KL Rahul is the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 537 runs from 14 games averaging 48.82 and at a strike rate of 135.26.
Quinton de Kock is the third leading run-getter in the ongoing season of the tournament, with 502 runs in 14 matches at an average of 38.62 and a strike rate of 149.40. He played a marvellous knock against KKR in the previous game, smacking 140* runs at a strike of 200.
Mohsin Khan, the find of the season for Lucknow Super Giants, has delivered in almost all matches he played for LSG. He has so far picked 13 wickets in 8 matches at an average of 13.23 and an economy of 5.93.
Virat Kohli, the chase machine, has given a glimpse of his old self in the last game against Gujarat Titans. He took the GT bowlers to the cleaners, stacking 73 off 54 to provide a good start to RCB.
Glenn Maxwell has been an integral part of RCB's middle-order and has played some crucial cameo knocks for them thus far. In the last game against GT, he smashed 18-ball 40 to complete the chase in just 18.4 overs.
Wanindu Hasaranga is the leading wicket-taker for RCB and is second in the race of purple cap. He has taken 24 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 15.08 and an economy of 7.38.
Squads:
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder, Dushmantha Chameera, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Shahbaz Nadeem, Manan Vohra, Kyle Mayers, Ankit Rajpoot, Krishnappa Gowtham, Andrew Tye, Ravi Bishnoi, Karan Sharma, Mayank Yadav.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood, Akash Deep, Anuj Rawat, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudessai, Sherfane Rutherford, Aneeshwar Gautam, Chama V Milind, Jason Behrendorff, David Willey, Karn Sharma, Siddarth Kaul.
Probable Playing XI:
Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock (wk), KL Rahul (c), Evin Lewis, Deepak Hooda, Manan Vohra, Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (C), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (WK), Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Josh Hazlewood, Siddarth Kaul.
CREX XI Suggestion:
Wicket-Keeper: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock
Batters: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Deepak Hooda
All-Rounders: Jason Holder, Glenn Maxwell
Bowlers: Wanindu Hasaranga, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Harshal Patel
Captain: KL Rahul
Vice-Captain: Glenn Maxwell