The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will look to secure their third consecutive win, facing off against the fluctuating fortunes of the Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday evening in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The center of attention, Mayank Yadav, has rapidly become a crucial player for LSG following his electrifying performances that have sparked discussions about his potential elevation to the Indian national team.
Yadav, only 21, has already made significant strides in the IPL, mesmerizing fans and critics alike with his formidable pace and pinpoint accuracy, which earned him the player of the match in his first two appearances. His debut against the Punjab Kings was nothing short of sensational, where he managed to claim 3 wickets for 27 runs, leaving seasoned players like Jonny Bairstow in his wake. Continuing his formidable form, he dominated the match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with figures of 3/14, including the dismissal of Glenn Maxwell with a blistering delivery clocked at 151 kmph.
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While Yadav's extraordinary start has fueled debates about his immediate future with the Indian team, the emphasis remains on his ability to maintain this level of performance consistently, a factor that the national selectors are likely to monitor closely.
On the batting front, LSG boast a formidable duo in Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul, with de Kock showing exceptional form early in the season. However, the team's captain, Rahul, is yet to fully capitalize on his starts. Nicholas Pooran has proven to be a reliable asset in the later overs, alongside Krunal Pandya, who contributed valuable runs in the previous game. Nonetheless, LSG faces challenges with the form of Devdutt Padikkal and Marcus Stoinis, who have yet to make a significant impact.
The bowling department, spearheaded by Yadav, seeks additional support from their lineup, including Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur, Mohsin Khan, Stoinis, and Ravi Bishnoi, to solidify their defense.
Positioned fourth on the leaderboard, LSG will be keen to leverage their home advantage and familiarity with conditions to extend their winning streak.
Contrastingly, the Gujarat Titans have experienced a rollercoaster season under Shubman Gill's captaincy, with two wins and two losses. Despite Gill's impressive performance in the previous match, the team still came up short. B Sai Sudharsan will be eyeing a significant score while Wriddhiman Saha and Vijay Shankar are yet to find their feet this season. Mohit Sharma has been leading the bowling attack well but needs more support from the likes of Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Rashid Khan, and Noor Ahmad.
Team News
LSG may not want to tinker with their winning combination but Devdutt Padikkal’s form is surely under scanner. Deepak Hooda could feature if LSG decide to drop the southpaw from their XI.
Gujarat lost a close contest to the Punjab Kings last time around, and might persist with the same combination for another game at least.
Head-to-head record
The Gujarat Titans have never lost to the Lucknow Super Giants. The 2022 champions have won all 4 games between the two sides till date.
Weather Report
It will be a clear, warm evening at the Ekana Stadium with temperatures expected around the 30-32°C mark.
Probable XIs
LSG Probable XI: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul(wk/c), Devdutt Padikkal, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mayank Yadav
GT Probable XI: Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill(c), Kane Williamson, Sai Sudharsan, Vijay Shankar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Darshan Nalkande (Impact sub: Mohit Sharma)
Full squads
Lucknow Super Giants squad: KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock, Devdutt Padikkal, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Naveen-ul-Haq, Amit Mishra, Kyle Mayers, Ashton Turner, Krishnappa Gowtham, Matt Henry, Deepak Hooda, Prerak Mankad, Yash Thakur, Shivam Mavi, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Arshad Khan, Shamar Joseph, Arshin Kulkarni
Gujarat Titans squad: Shubman Gill(c), Wriddhiman Saha, Sai Sudharsan, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Umesh Yadav, Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma, Darshan Nalkande, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Sharath BR, Manav Suthar, Abhinav Manohar, Matthew Wade, Kane Williamson, Jayant Yadav, Sandeep Warrier, Shahrukh Khan, Joshua Little, Kartik Tyagi, Spencer Johnson, Sushant Mishra
(With PTI inputs)
