In a crucial clash, Mumbai and Lucknow face off, with Mumbai aiming to solidify their position for a top-two finish. Lucknow finds themselves in a desperate situation with a winless streak at home exceeding a month. Mumbai, encountering the low and slow pitch of Ekana for the first time, sets the stage for an intriguing contest. Both teams will be eager to make the most of this opportunity, promising an exciting game ahead.
Mumbai Indians:
Despite facing several challenges, Mumbai Indians have managed to stay in contention for a top-two finish in the IPL. They have been hit hard by injuries to key players like Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer, without having suitable replacements. Additionally, Rohit Sharma has been struggling with his form for multiple seasons. The talented South African batsmen, Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs, who performed well in the previous season, have been deprived of sufficient opportunities. Tilak Verma, a promising find from last season, remains uncertain. However, despite these setbacks and a slow start to the season, Mumbai Indians have defied the odds and are still in the running for a favorable position.
Lucknow Super Giants:
Lucknow Super Giants' "Adab Se Harayenge" campaign, which aimed to infuse nawabi warmth, may be proving counterproductive as they endure a winless streak at home for over a month. Their upcoming match against the dominant Mumbai Indians adds to the challenge. Interestingly, Mumbai Indians have never defeated Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL, with KL Rahul's century performances playing a significant role in their past victories. However, KL Rahul will not be part of the upcoming match. Despite having a plethora of spin options and skilled players adept at playing spin, Lucknow Super Giants have struggled to find sustained success at their home ground and in the tournament overall.
Probable 11 including potential impact player:
Lucknow Super Giants:
Quinton de Kock (WK), Kyle Mayers, Prerak Mankad, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya (C), Ayush Badoni, K Gowtham, Yudhvir Charak/Yash Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan.
Mumbai Indians:
Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Hrithik Shokeen, Piyush Chawla, Chris Jordan, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff
Interesting Match Facts :
- LSG have remained winless in their last four home games, losing three of those matches and one being washed out.
- Average first innings score in Lucknow is just 143, 25 fewer than the next lowest (Delhi).
- LSG has the lowest economy rate in the death overs among all teams in IPL 2023 (9.46), while Mumbai Indians have the highest (12.08)
What to expect - It has been a fortnight since the last match was played in its entirety at the venue. Despite a notable increase in temperature, the batting conditions are unlikely to improve. The quality of the pitch remains a subject of debate, leading teams to prefer batting first. Although there has been considerable discussion about the impact of spinners, pacers have also been highly effective, picking up wickets at a similar frequency and nearly the same average as spinners. On average, pacers concede only one run more per over.
Date & Time: 16th May, 2023 at 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Stadium, Ekana, Lucknow
Live Streaming: Star Sports Network & Jio Cinema
Dream XI Team:
