Lucknow Super Giants • Source: Twitter
The 21st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 will see Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) taking on Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Saturday, April 15 at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow.
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Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow's Super Giants have had a great start to the tournament, with three wins from four matches. After a convincing victory over Delhi Capitals in their opening match, they faltered against Chennai Super Kings but quickly recovered to win their next two matches.
Their most recent game against Royal Challengers Bangalore was a thrilling affair, with the Super Giants pulling off a dramatic one-wicket victory at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, courtesy Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis' batting carnage.
The Super Giants have been firing on all cylinders, but the form of their captain KL Rahul has been a bit of a worry. Apart from him, everything seems to be working for them perfectly, and the team will be hoping to extend their winning run in the tournament.
Punjab Kings
Punjab, on the other hand, kicked off the tournament in style, winning their first two matches with aplomb. However, their momentum has slowed down in recent games, with two successive losses in their next outings.
The team's bowling has been relatively solid, but their batting has been a major cause for concern, with only captain Shikhar Dhawan consistently performing well. Going forward, they will need their other players to step up if they hope to win matches.
Match Details
Date and Time: 15 April, 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium
Live Streaming and Broadcast: Jio Cinema & Star Sports Network
Pitch Report
The pitch at Ekana stadium has historically favoured the spinners, with the surface typically playing on the slower side. Given the strength of both teams in this area, we can expect another thrilling encounter here. The toss could prove to be a decisive factor, with the team that wins likely to bat first and defended the total later on.
Predicted Playing XIs
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Jaydev Unadkat, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi
Punjab Kings: Prabhsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Matthew Short, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rishi Dhawan, Arshdeep Singh
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-Keeper: Nicholas Pooran
Batters: Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Bhanuka Rajapaksa
All-Rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Sam Curran, Krunal Pandya
Bowlers: Mark Wood, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi
Captain: Shikhar Dhawan
Vice-Captain: Kyle Mayers
Prediction
The presence of top-notch spinners like Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, and Ravi Bishnoi in the Lucknow Super Giants lineup gives them a significant edge, particularly since the match is being played at their home ground, which is known for being spin-friendly. Hence, the Super Giants are the favourites heading into this encounter against Punjab Kings.
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