LSG vs RCB: Frenemies Will Look to Level the Scores at Lucknow | Predicted XIs, Pitch Report, Fantasy Tips
LSG won by 1 wicket when they last met RCB (AP Photo)
The KL Rahul and Gautam Gambhir-led Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will welcome Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Lucknow's Ekana Stadium in Match 43 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Monday.
Both Rahul and Gambhir have had fascinating track records against Virat Kohli and RCB, and it was similar when they last visited Bengaluru. In a nail-biting run-fest, LSG got the better of RCB, which brought out animated emotions out off players and coaching staffs.
Now, in the round two, the Faf du Plessis' men will look to level the old scores in Lucknow.
Team Preview
Royal Challengers Bangalore
After winning four and losing as many games in the IPL 2023, Bangalore will have play some consistent cricket in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, two of the brightest hopes - Faf du Plessis and Josh Hazlewood - have regained full fitness and will probably play against LSG.
To make room for the Australian seamer, RCB are expected to drop David Willey. Apart from that, they won't be making any more changes.
And, RCB's lower middle batters will have to join the run-scoring party, as the combination of Kohli, du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell have been doing all the heavy weightlifting so far.
Lucknow Super Giants
Sitting at the third spot, apart from a couple of things here and there, Lucknow have made all their basis covered. The three of LSG's overseas recruits - Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran - are taking the opposition bowlers to the cleaners so cleanly that the team management hasn't been able to play Quinton de Kock.
They do have some problems in the Indian batting talent not performing to their true potential, and that need to be rectified before IPL 2023 heads into its business end.
Match Details
Date and Time: 1 May, 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Live Streaming and Broadcast: Jio Cinema & Star Sports Network
Pitch Report: The surface in Lucknow has been below-standard for the batters, as the surfaces haven't produced a good balance between bat and ball so far. The spinners have had the better of the batters. But, if the upcoming game gets played on which Delhi played earlier in the season, then expect it to be a run-fest.
Starting XIs
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suyash Prabhudessai, Wanindu Hasaranga, Josh Hazlewood, Mohammed Siraj, Harshal Patel
Impact Players Substitutes
Vijaykumar Vyshak, Anuj Rawat, Finn Allen, Karn Sharma, David Willey
Lucknow Super Giants
KL Rahul (c), Kyle Mayers, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Naveen ul Haq, Yash Thakur, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
Impact Players Substitutes
Amit Mishra, Prerak Mankad, Jaydev Unadkat, Daniel Sams, Krishnappa Gowtham
Cricket Exchange Fantasy
Wicketkeeper: Nicholas Pooran
Batters: Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul
All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Kyle Mayers, Krunal Pandya, Wanindu Hasaranga
Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj, Naveen ul Haq, Ravi Bishnoi
Captain: Virat Kohli
Vice-Captain: Krunal Pandya
Prediction
Predicting who would outsmart whom in the upcoming fixture, but it would be a close contest, where bowlers will have an extra edge.
 "Arjun Bhalla")