Gambhir out, Langer in, favours odd LSG for clinching trophy, would the stars align for LSG in IPL 2024?
The much-awaited 17th edition of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) is just a week away, and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) team will be eyeing their maiden title. The expectations from LSG are high as always, and they have been gearing up for the tournament with great enthusiasm.
In the mini-auction, LSG made some significant moves, which were well received by the fans. However, some fans felt that it was below par as per their expectations. LSG have acquired Devdutt Padikkal as their middle-order batsman by trading Avesh Khan with Rajasthan Royals.
With captain KL Rahul nursing an injury, it remains to be seen whether he will be available for LSG’s 1st match of the IPL 2024 against RR on 24 March 2024.
Probable- XI for LSG:
KL Rahul (C)
Kyle Mayers
Deepak Hooda
Devdutt Padikkal
Nicholas Pooran (WK)
Krunal Pandya
Marcus Stoinis
Shivam Mavi
Naveen-ul-Haq
Ravi Bishnoi
Mohsin Khan
The impact players: Quinton de Kock/Amit Mishra
It is interesting to note that a frontline wicket-keeper batter like Quinton de Kock was out of the playing-XI in most of the matches during IPL 2023. Also, with Gautam Gambhir resigning as mentor ahead of IPL 2024, former Australian cricketer Justin Langer was appointed as the head coach. It is the 1st time that LSG have appointed a “head coach”.
LSG’s coaching staff comprises South African stalwarts like Lance Klusener as Assistant head coach, Jonty Rhodes as fielding coach and Morne Morkel as fast bowling coach. Sridharan Sriram and Pravin Tambe from India are assistant coach and spin bowling coaches respectively.
LSG's squad:
Wicket-keepers - Nicholas Pooran, Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul
Batters - Ayush Badoni, Devdutt Padikkal, Ashton Turner, Deepak Hooda
All-rounders - Kyle Mayers, Arshin Kulkarni, David Willey, K Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Prerak Mankad, Yudhvir Singh
Bowlers - Amit Mishra, Arshad Khan, M. Siddharth, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph, Shivam Mavi, Yash Thakur
