After losing the first match against the Rajasthan Royals, the Lucknow Super Giants bounced back strongly, winning three consecutive matches and rising to 3rd place in the points table. Much of Lucknow’s success has been attributed to their strong roster of players. Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul provided the team with a quick start, while Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis added weight to the middle order. Pooran is the team’s leading run-scorer, accumulating 178 runs at a strike rate of 169.52. He has also been electric in the field, taking 5 catches. Additionally, LSG benefits from the services of Krunal Pandya, Devdutt Padikkal, and Ayush Badoni, providing depth to their lineup. At present, the bowlers have been doing an excellent job. Yash Thakur and Mayank Yadav have taken 6 wickets each, while Navin-ul-Haq has 5 to his name. Yash Thakur’s five-wicket haul in the last match proved crucial in securing LSG’s third consecutive victory. Ravi Bishnoi has struggled a bit, managing to take only 2 wickets in 4 games.
With just 1 win in 5 matches, the Delhi Capitals are one of the worst-performing teams of the season and currently languish at the bottom of the points table. Although there are still many matches ahead, the team will strive to get back on the winning track before it’s too late. The opening pair of Prithvi Shaw and David Warner has been somewhat inconsistent and needs to provide the team with a strong start in this match. Shaw was in good form in the last match, scoring 66 runs off just 40 deliveries. There are also some talented batsmen in the middle order, including Rishabh Pant, Abhishek Sharma, and Tristan Staub. However, they have again failed to achieve the significant successes needed to lift the team. Khalil Ahmed and Anrich Nortje have performed well with the new ball. Ahmed is the team’s top wicket-taker with 7 wickets, while Nortje has taken 6. They will be supported by Ishant Sharma and Jay Richardson, while Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav will handle the spin attack.
