The Rajasthan Royals, led by Sanju Samson, are in scintillating form. They enter this match on the heels of a convincing win against the Mumbai Indians. They now face a formidable opponent in KL Rahul's Lucknow Super Giants. Lucknow, riding high on the back of Marcus Stoinis' stunning performance, pulled off a remarkable win against the Chennai Super Kings, stealing the show at the Chidambaram Stadium. With both teams coming off impressive victories, this match promises to be a fierce battle for crucial points. A win for RR would almost guarantee their spot in the qualifiers, while for Lucknow, it's a chance to climb to second place on the points table, just behind the Royals.
The Rajasthan Royals owe their remarkable form and consistency to the diverse contributions of their players. Whether it's Jos Buttler shining twice, or Sanju Samson and Riyan Parag each notching up three fifties, or Shimron Hetmyer's standout performance against PBKS, every player has risen to the occasion. Chahal's sensational bowling has also been a key factor, earning him the second spot in the purple cap race, while Boult has delivered as expected. Their collective efforts have propelled them to the top of the table. As they prepare to face Lucknow on their home turf, they'll encounter a formidable bowling attack led by Matt Henry and Mayank Yadav. The challenge of facing Mayank Yadav, who has been a standout performer in the tournament makes the match even more interesting.
Probable XI:
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Impact Players: Kuldeep Sen, Navdeep Saini
The Lucknow Super Giants have had a decent run so far, winning 5 out of 8 matches. This upcoming match against the table-toppers is crucial for them. Their confidence is soaring, especially after defeating Chennai at Chepauk, they're the only team to beat Chennai twice this season. Marcus Stoinis's recent heroics have erased any concerns about his form, and Rajasthan Royals will be wary of him. Lucknow boasts one of the strongest finishing pairs in Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran, capable of turning the game around at any moment. Reports suggest that Mayank Yadav might return for this match, adding firepower to their bowling attack. His inclusion could prompt the LSG management to bring in Kyle Mayers for Matt Henry, bolstering their batting lineup against RR's experienced bowlers. With a strong bowling lineup including Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Stoinis, Pandya, and the impact player, Lucknow will have plenty of options to challenge RR.
Probable XI:
Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (w/c), Marcus Stoinis, Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan.
Impact Players: Manimaran Siddharth, Arshin Kulkarni
Weather and Pitch Report: Tonight, the temperature in Lucknow will be approximately 30 degrees Celsius at the toss. But during the match it looks like the humidity will be around 28% as per the weather experts, and there is no chance of rain.
With the pitch being black-soil, it's expected to be average-scoring. We anticipate the first innings to be maximum total of 165-175 runs. The team winning the toss might opt to bowl first due to the likelihood of dew affecting the pitch in the second innings. Our prediction favors LSG to emerge victorious in this contest.
Interesting Stats and Facts:
- Sanju Samson needs only 5 sixes to complete 200 IPL sixes.
- Yuzvendra Chahal needs only 1 wicket to complete 350 T20 wickets.
- Nicholas Pooran is just 6 fours away from completing 100 IPL fours. He has hit more sixes than fours.
- Jos Buttler is just 3 fours away from completing 350 IPL fours.
Match Details:
Time: 7.30 PM (IST)
Venue: Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: Jio Cinema app
Dream XI:
