The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to battle the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Tuesday evening, with both teams eager to secure the vital two points at stake. This matchup is particularly crucial as both teams are striving to improve their standings.
The Lucknow Super Giants are coming off a tough loss to the Rajasthan Royals, a game that left them with 10 points after 9 matches. Despite their recent victories over the defending champions, Chennai Super Kings, LSG could not overcome the table-topping RR, which has added pressure to their campaign for a playoff spot. A win in their next match would be essential to lift them above several close competitors in the rankings.
For LSG, the form of opener Quinton de Kock, which has dipped recently, is a concern. The team's prospects heavily depend on him and captain KL Rahul delivering strong performances. Additionally, LSG's bowling faced challenges in their last outing, with Yash Thakur and Mohsin Khan proving costly against RR. The potential return of Mayank Yadav could bolster the squad, providing a significant uplift to their bowling attack.
On the other side, the Mumbai Indians are currently struggling, positioned ninth after consecutive losses, including a defeat against the Delhi Capitals where they conceded 257 runs. MI's bowling, particularly the pace attack, has been a weak point, with star bowler Jasprit Bumrah lacking adequate support. This has been a glaring issue, as the team has struggled to contain their opponents' scoring.
Furthermore, MI's captain Hardik Pandya is enduring a particularly challenging season with the ball. His leadership and performance will be critical as Mumbai seeks to turn their season around and push for a spot in the playoffs.
Team News
Mayank Yadav didn't return to the Playing XI as expected in the last game and there's still no clarity on whether the pacer will finally be available for selection against the Mumbai Indians.
For Mumbai, Gerald Coetzee, who missed out in the last game due to a stomach bug, will most likely be back. Hardik Pandya's men might also bring in Romario Shepherd to bolster their lower-order batting. Coetzee and Shepherd's return would see Luke Wood and Nuwan Thushara miss out.
Head-to-head record
The two teams have locked horns 4 times in the past, with LSG emerging victorious in 3 of those games.
Weather Report
A hot evening awaits those involved in the game, with temperatures expected to be in the 32-35°C range. The good news is there's no chance of rain.
Probable XIs
LSG Probable XI: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (wk/c), Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Matt Henry, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav
MI Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Hardik Pandya (c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah
Full squads
Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (wk/c), Marcus Stoinis, Devdutt Padikkal, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Matt Henry, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur, Arshin Kulkarni, Krishnappa Gowtham, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Manimaran Siddharth, Arshad Khan, Prerak Mankad, Amit Mishra, Kyle Mayers, Shamar Joseph, Ashton Turner, Naveen-ul-Haq, Mayank Yadav
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Mohammad Nabi, Nehal Wadhera, Hardik Pandya (c), Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara, Akash Madhwal, Naman Dhir, Shams Mulani, Dewald Brevis, Romario Shepherd, Shreyas Gopal, Kumar Kartikeya, Luke Wood, Harvik Desai, Arjun Tendulkar, Shivalik Sharma, Anshul Kamboj, Kwena Maphaka
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