A Well Assorted Overseas Unit: Lucknow Super Giants - X Factor


image-li0avxujThe overseas unit of LSG has been their biggest strength this season (Source: AP Photo)

The Qualifier 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2023) is upon us, and the Lucnkow Super Giants (LSG) will be taking the field against the most successful team in the history of IPL, the Mumbai Indians (MI). The match will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday, 24th May, at 7:30 PM IST. 

Under Krunal Pandya's leadership, the new franchise must punch above the weight to make it to the tournament's final. So in this article, we will look at the factor that might give LSG an edge over the most successful team in Qualifier 2. 



A power-packed imported arsenal

The prime performers for the LSG this tournament have been their overseas recruits. They have given match-winning performances, and once again, the team will hope they perform to their best in this crunch game. Let us look at the best performers from the LSG team and how they can help their team reach the finals for the first, if not lift their maiden IPL trophy. 

Marcus Stoinis

The Aussie all-rounder has been in the thick of things throughout the tournament. Marcus Stoinis has scored 368 runs in the tournament from 14 matches at a strike rate of over 150. 

Stoinis has scored runs at crucial junctures bailing the team out of trouble. Come Qualifier 2, LSG will hope he delivers another power pack performance and help them defeat the most successful team in the tournament's history, Mumbai Indians. 

Nicholas Pooran

The West Indian skipper has been vital to LSG's journey in IPL 2023—batting in the lower middle-order; Pooran has stacked up 358 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate 173.79. 

He has played some powerful knocks providing the finishing touches to the LSG innings. The team will be hoping for another impactful finish from Nicky P. 

Quinton de Kock

The South African opener had to wait long in IPL 2023 before he got to play his first match in the tournament. But since his first match, de Kock has been quite impactful with his bat in the top order. 

He has scored 140 runs in 4 matches at a strike rate of over 140 and has given some solid starts to the team. De Kock has played for MI and might know a few things about how the team will go about in a big match like this. He will be providing LSG help in more ways than one. 

One more overseas name could have popped up, Kyle Mayers. But he has recently been kept out due to team composition. Nevertheless, the names that have played a significant role in bringing LSG this far in the tournament give us the idea that their foreign players have been pivotal in their run. And they will be the X-factor for the team at the business end of the tournament.