The ongoing IPL 2024 journey for Lucknow Super Giants advances as they face Kolkata Knight Riders. The clash between the two teams will unfold at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, May 5th, marking the 54th match of the tournament.
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LSG vs KKR: Match Preview
Lucknow has showcased impressive performances, securing six victories and enduring four defeats so far. Currently positioned third on the leaderboard, Lucknow Super Giants boast 12 points.
In contrast, Kolkata Knight Riders hold the second spot on the leaderboard and are on the verge of advancing to the tournament’s knockout stage. With 14 points to their credit, KKR has triumphed in seven matches and aims to add another win to their tally in their pursuit of an eighth victory this season.
Kolkata Knight Riders will make their IPL debut in Lucknow, arriving with confidence after securing their first victory at Wankhede Stadium since 2012. While Mumbai Indians may be struggling this year, Shreyas Iyer’s team displayed resilience, recovering from a top-order collapse with impressive bowling. This win crucially sets them two points ahead of their upcoming opponents for Sunday’s match as the season approaches its critical phase.
Lucknow Super Giants aim to widen the gap between them and the chasing teams, despite having played one more game. While they enjoyed a three-game winning streak earlier in the season, Rahul’s team has faced setbacks, experiencing a pattern of progress and setbacks. Though losses haven’t derailed their campaign, another defeat could entangle them in the mid-table battle. They seek to avoid this by concluding the Lucknow leg of the season with a fifth win in seven games.
After more than fifty games, no team has secured a playoff berth yet, emphasizing the competitiveness of the IPL. Kolkata Knight Riders and Lucknow Super Giants currently occupy the second and third positions on the table, but their playoff qualification is not guaranteed. Both teams are keen to avoid getting entangled in the mid-table battle, recognizing the significance of securing two points in this crucial encounter.
For Kolkata Knight Riders, who enter the game with momentum from two consecutive wins, playing in Lucknow presents a new challenge. They have never played an IPL match in this city, and the pitch conditions at Ekana Stadium are known to be unpredictable. However, the dominance of spin in most matches at this venue favors KKR, given the strong performances of their spin duo, Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine. In their previous encounter at Eden Gardens, these spinners effectively contained the Lucknow Super Giants’ batting lineup.
Lucknow Super Giants have also struggled to adapt to the pitches at Ekana Stadium. Despite posting a formidable total of 196 runs on a seemingly batting-friendly pitch against Rajasthan Royals, they suffered a seven-wicket defeat. Conversely, they successfully chased down a target of 145 runs on a slower pitch against Mumbai Indians. The outcome of Sunday’s match will hinge on the nature of the pitch—whether it favors red soil, black soil, or a combination of both. Injuries have plagued Lucknow throughout the season, with key players like Mayank Yadav and Quinton de Kock facing setbacks. To bolster their playoff chances, the hosts aim to establish consistency in their lineup and results.
In Terms Of Recent Form:
LSG WLWWL (last five matches, most recent first)
KKR WWLWL
LSG vs KKR: Pitch Report & Conditions
In the previous match, the pitch was strategically chosen to level the playing field for bowlers, neutralizing the advantage of one shorter boundary. The upcoming game’s run-scoring potential will heavily rely on the pitch selection. Despite the large ground dimensions, Kolkata Knight Riders might pose a challenge to the perception that hitting sixes is difficult at this venue.
The surface at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow tends to be slow, with significant turn for spinners. Expect a game characterized by a slower pace, favoring spinners who can exploit the conditions. Given the nature of the pitch, batting first and setting a substantial total could prove advantageous..
Lucknow Super Giants experienced contrasting pitch conditions in their previous matches against Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. While one pitch was conducive to batting, the other was slower in nature. Aware of Kolkata Knight Riders’ formidable spin attack, the home team will be cautious not to concede any advantage in that aspect. Historically, the average first-innings score at the venue since IPL 2023 has been around 160 runs.
LSG vs KKR: Head-to-head
- Matches Played: 4
- Lucknow Super Giants won: 3
- Kolkata Knight Riders won: 1
- No Result: 0
- First Played: 7 May, 2022
- Last Played: 14 April, 2024
In the previous encounter, a commanding performance by Phil Salt, who scored 89 runs off 47 balls, coupled with Mitchell Starc’s impressive bowling figures of 3 for 28, led the hosts to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants. Batting first, LSG managed to post a total of 161 for 7 after being put in to bat. However, Kolkata Knight Riders chased down the target comfortably, reaching it in just 15.4 overs.
LSG vs KKR: Team News and Impact Player Strategy
Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow Super Giants are expected to make some adjustments to their lineup for the upcoming match. Ashton Turner filled in for Quinton de Kock in the previous game, but with de Kock likely to return, Turner may make way. However, with Mayank Yadav ruled out due to injury, Yash Thakur or Amit Mishra could be brought in to strengthen the team.
In terms of strategy, Lucknow Super Giants will need to devise a plan to contain Phil Salt, whose explosive 89-run knock in the reverse fixture posed a significant threat. Considering Salt’s struggles away from home, particularly against left-arm quicks like Mohsin Khan, LSG might look to exploit this weakness to dismiss him early. Additionally, focusing on restricting Sunil Narine’s scoring opportunities could prove beneficial, especially given his vulnerability against left-arm quicks. The spacious boundaries of Ekana Stadium offer an opportunity for LSG to induce false shots from Narine.
Predicted XII:
- KL Rahul
- Quinton de Kock
- Arshin Kulkarni
- Marcus Stoinis
- Deepak Hooda
- Nicholas Pooran
- Ayush Badoni
- Krunal Pandya
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Naveen-ul-Haq
- Mohsin Khan
- Amit Mishra/Yash Thakur
Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders are set to welcome back Harshit Rana after his one-match disciplinary ban. Manish Pandey, who made a significant impact as the Impact Player in the previous game against Mumbai Indians, is likely to retain his spot if KKR requires additional batting support.
Spin duo Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy enter the game in fine form, having collectively conceded only 44 runs while claiming 4 wickets in their recent outing. Their matchup against Lucknow Super Giants’ key players Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran presents a favorable scenario for KKR, given Stoinis’ susceptibility to spin, including a previous dismissal by Chakravarthy.
Andre Russell, who showcased his effectiveness with the ball in the last game, particularly against Stoinis and Pooran, adds depth to KKR’s bowling attack. Should Lucknow Super Giants reintroduce Quinton de Kock to the lineup, KKR will rely on Mitchell Starc to pose a threat, given his recent form and the historical success of left-arm pacers against the South African batsman.
Predicted XII:
- Phil Salt (wk)
- Sunil Narine
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi/Manish Pandey
- Shreyas Iyer (capt)
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Rinku Singh
- Andre Russell
- Ramandeep Singh
- Mitchell Starc
- Vaibhav Arora
- Harshit Rana
- Varun Chakravarthy
LSG vs KKR: Players Under The Spotlight
LSG- Marcus Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis has regained form just when Lucknow Super Giants needed it most. Following an outstanding individual performance against Chennai Super Kings, he faced a setback with a duck against Rajasthan Royals, contributing to LSG’s loss. However, he bounced back with another match-winning knock of 62 runs against Mumbai Indians on a challenging pitch. Stoinis has found success batting at No. 3, alleviating pressure on Nicholas Pooran to compensate for the top-order struggles. Additionally, his medium pace has proven valuable, dismissing key batsmen like Yashasvi Jaiswal and Suryakumar Yadav in recent matches.
KKR- Shreyas Iyer
Despite a fifty against Royal Challengers Bangalore, captain Shreyas Iyer has yet to make a substantial impact with the bat during KKR’s successful run this season. With 257 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 137.43, he enters the game after scoring 6, 33*, and 28 in his last three outings. While he has shown promise with some good starts, he has struggled to convert them into substantial scores. Fortunately for KKR, contributions from other players have compensated for his lack of big innings. In the previous encounter, he scored a run-a-ball 38, supporting Phil Salt’s aggressive innings at the other end.
LSG vs KKR: Match Prediction
Scenario 1:
- Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and bat.
- Power Play score: 55-65.
- First Innings Score: 180-190.
- Prediction: Lucknow Super Giants win the match.
Scenario 2:
- Kolkata Knight Riders win the toss and bat.
- Power Play score: 50-60.
- First Innings Score: 170-180.
- Prediction: Lucknow Super Giants win the match.
LSG vs KKR: Dream 11 Fantasy Prediction
Team 1:
- Keeper: Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt
- Batsman: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Venkatesh Iyer, KL Rahul
- All-rounders: Andre Russel, Sunil Narine (VC), Marcus Stoinis (C), Krunal Pandya
- Bowlers: Varun Chakravarthy, Naveen-ul-Haq
Team 2:
- Keeper: KL Rahul (VC), Nicholas Pooran, Philip Salt
- Batsman: Shreyas Iyer
- All-rounders: Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine (C)
- Bowlers: Naveen ul Haq, Mohsin Khan, Mitchell Starc
When and Where to Watch the Match: Streaming & Broadcast Details
What: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), IPL 2024
When: 7:30 PM IST, Sunday – May 5
Where: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Where to watch LSG vs KKR Live Streaming: JioCinema app for FREE
Where to watch LSG vs KKR Live Telecast: Star Sports
