The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) got off to a promising start in the season by defeating the five-time champions Mumbai Indians in their opening game. However, they suffered a massive 81-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, which must have left Faf du Plessis, the captain of RCB, disappointed with his team’s performance, especially the batsmen. The opening duo of Du Plessis and Virat Kohli has done well so far, putting up a partnership of 148 runs against Mumbai Indians and 44 runs in the second game. However, the middle-order batsmen, such as Michael Bracewell and Glenn Maxwell, have failed to capitalize on their starts. The team will be expecting them to play big innings as they return to their home ground. Last season’s star performer, Dinesh Karthik, also failed to perform against KKR. Although RCB has all-rounders like David Willey and Shahbaz Ahmed, their middle-order remains a concern. David Willey, who replaced the injured Reece Topley, bowled with great discipline and impressed fans, but more is expected from Mohammad Siraj and Harshal Patel, who have not been in the best of form with the ball. Karn Sharma has done well during the middle overs, and with Wanindu Hasaranga expected to join the team soon, RCB’s spin attack will become more potent. Overall, RCB needs to work on their middle-order batting and bowling if they want to continue their winning momentum in the tournament.
The Lucknow Super Giants have had a good start to their campaign, winning two out of their three matches so far and are currently in the top four of the points table. A convincing win in this match would further solidify their position in the standings. Captain KL Rahul has shown excellent leadership skills and has been making smart decisions regarding field placements and bowling changes. His own form with the bat seems to be improving as well, as he played a crucial role in the team’s victory against SRH. Rahul will be looking to build a strong opening partnership with Kyle Mayers, while the team will be hoping for a return to form for Deepak Hooda, who has struggled with the bat. Krunal Pandya has been a standout performer with both bat and ball, taking three wickets and scoring 34 runs in the previous match. The Super Giants have the luxury of three quality all-rounders in Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, and Romario Shepherd, providing them with a lot of flexibility. However, Stoinis and Shepherd have yet to make an impact with the bat. In the team’s last match, leg-spinner Amit Mishra made a strong comeback after being out of the team and will likely be paired with Ravi Bishnoi for the upcoming game. The availability of Mark Wood is still uncertain, so Jaydev Unadkat is expected to lead the pace attack. Overall, the Lucknow Super Giants will be looking to build on their strong start and continue their winning momentum in the tournament. More IPL prediction for today can be obtained from the link provided.
