IPL 2023: Key Player Battles To Watch Out For LSG vs CSK
LSG v CSK [Image- IPLT20]
Chennai Super Kings will lock horns with the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, May 03.
As has been the trend in the matches played at this venue, it is likely to be a low-scoring affair, with spinners from both sides ruling the roost.
On that note, here's a look at some of the key battles which may define this game:
Nicholas Pooran v Ravindra Jadeja
Nicholas Pooran [Image- IPLT20]
Pooran loves smashing his positive match-ups, especially left-arm finger spin.
Ravindra Jadeja has been brilliant with the ball in this season, but he has historically struggled against Pooran. He has dismissed the Windies southpaw just once in 20 deliveries in this format at the cost of 42 runs.
Devon Conway v Ravi Bishnoi
Devon Conway [Image- IPT20]
The Kiwi southpaw has been in brilliant form this season, having smashed 5 50+ scores in 9 outings.
Given the surface will assist spinners, LSG may look to employ wrist-spinner Ravi Bishnoi in the powerplay in order to counter Conway.
Bishnoi averages 20.90 (21 wickets in 41 innings) against left-handed batters. He has bowled just 3 deliveries to Conway in T20 cricket, in which he conceded 2 runs without taking the opener's wicket.
Conway averages 51.5 and strikes at 122.6 against right-arm wrist-spin.
Kyle Mayers v Moeen Ali
Moeen Ali celebrates after dismissing Kyle Mayers [Image- IPLT20]
Mayers has been in amazing form this season, but his struggles against spin are well known.
Mayers likes to take down the opposition pacers in the powerplay. To negate his strength, MS Dhoni may dish out an unfavourable match-up to the West Indian dasher in the form of Moeen Ali.
Ali enjoys bowling to left-arm batters like every off-spinner does. He dismissed Mayers in the previous fixture, and he will look to do an encore on what is likely to be a spin-friendly surface.
Ruturaj Gaikwad v Ravi Bishnoi
Ruturaj Gaikwad [Image- IPLT20]
Ruturaj has looked off-colour in the past few games, especially against spin.
He has been dismissed by a spinner in each of his last 3 innings, including twice by a wrist-spinner.
This aspect makes his battle with Ravi Bishnoi a mouth-watering one. Bishnoi has conceded 17 runs against Rutu in 11 deliveries while dismissing the CSK opener once.
Ajinkya Rahane v Amit Mishra
Ajinkya Rahane and Amit Mishra [Image- Twitter]
Rahane has been in brilliant form this season, especially on true, flat wickets of Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore, where he has smashed pace and spin with equal disdain.
However, he will have his work cut-out against the likes of Amit Mishra on a spin-friendly pitch in Lucknow on Wednesday.
Rahane has scored 96 runs in 78 deliveries from Mishra and has been dismissed thrice.
 "Yash Mittal")
