Lucknow Super Giants - IPL 2023 Squad Analysis
The 16th edition of the Indian Premier League has arrived, promising an action-packed season. With ten teams vying for the trophy, get ready for a rollercoaster ride of cricketing action over the next two months.
The tournament got bigger and better last year with the addition of two new teams - the Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants. While the Titans went on to lift the trophy in their debut season, the Super Giants also made a strong showing by qualifying for the playoffs.
The Lucknow -based franchise, led by KL Rahul, has assembled a formidable squad for this season as well. Can they translate their potential into championship glory? We delve into the team's chances in this article:
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Squad Analysis
Batters: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Manan Vohra, Nicholas Pooran
All-Rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Kyle Mayers, Karan Sharma, Ayush Badoni, Romario Shepherd, Daniel Sams, Prerak Mankad, Yudhvir Charak
Bowlers: Ravi Bishnoi, Mark Wood, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Swapnil Singh, Naveen ul Haq, Amit Mishra, Yash Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat.
Strengths
Wicket-Keeper Batters Galore: With the likes of KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Nicholas Pooran in their ranks, Lucknow Super Giants have a wicket keeping conundrum that most teams would envy. All of them are adept behind the stumps and explosive with the bat as well.
A Team of All-Rounders: It's no secret that Gautam Gambhir, the mentor of Lucknow Super Giants, has a keen eye for all-rounders, and LSG’s lineup reflects this, with several such players contributing significantly to their success last year.
Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Krishnappa Gowatham, and Marcus Stoinis proved to be most impactful components for the team in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league.
This year, the team has further bolstered their all-rounder options by signing Prerak Mankad, Romario Shepherd, Daniel Sams, and Yudhvir Singh Charak.
With so many players vying for limited spots in the starting lineup, the team management will have their work cut out for them in deciding who to play.
Weaknesses
KL Rahul's conservative T20 approach: While once renowned for his aggressive hitting and ease of accumulating runs at a brisk rate, KL Rahul has struggled to maintain the same pace in the last couple of seasons, leading many to question his approach in the shortest format of the game and his inability to provide a good start to his team.
With all eyes on him this season, the question remains whether he will take the criticism to heart and come out on the front foot with an ultra-aggressive approach, that has made him a fan favourite in the past.
Injury Concerns: While Avesh Khan was the pacer to look out for in LSG last year, it was Mohsin Khan, a tall pacer from Uttar Pradesh who made headlines with his blistering pace and impressive wicket-taking abilities.
However, Mohsin is still recovering from an injury and is likely to miss half the season, which could be a significant blow to Lucknow Super Giants’ chances this year.
Although England's Mark Wood is a star addition to their team, his history of injuries is a concern as they lack an experienced replacement in their lineup.
Opportunity
KL Rahul aims to silence critics: The Karnataka batter has had a tough time in recent months, having been dropped from the test team and losing his vice-captaincy, followed by demotion in the central contracts.
As the IPL approaches, he faces a new challenge as a captain who needs to lead from the front and prove himself. It will be intriguing to see how he responds and evolves in the face of criticism.
Threat
Nicholas Pooran: Lucknow Super Giants made a huge splash by acquiring the services of West Indies wicket-keeper, Nicholas Pooran, for a record-breaking INR 16 Crore, making him the team's most expensive player.
The keeper batter had a decent season with the bat last year, and the team is counting on him to pick up where he left off with SRH in the previous season.
However, Pooran's inconsistent performance history in the IPL raises questions about his ability to deliver consistently, making it fascinating to see if he lives up to the faith the LSG management has shown in him.
LSG SWOT Analysis (Source: OneCricket)
Lucknow Super Giants Rating Card
Top Order: 8/10
Upper Middle Order: 8/10
Lower Middle Order: 7/10
Pace Bowling: 7/10
Spin Bowling: 7.5/10
Team Rating - 7.1/10
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