IPL 2024: LSG vs PBKS preview - Form guide, head-to-head record, team news, weather report, probable XI

In the Indian Premier League's upcoming match on Saturday, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will take on the Punjab Kings (PBKS) with an aspiration to refine their performance across all departments. Following a disappointing start to their IPL 2024 campaign, where they succumbed to a 20-run defeat against the Rajasthan Royals, LSG are keen on making amends.

The LSG bowling unit, except for Krunal Pandya, struggled to contain runs in their previous outing, demonstrating a need for improvement. The absence of Mark Wood and David Willey has notably weakened LSG's pace attack, putting pressure on Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, and Yash Thakur to step up.

Ravi Bishnoi, who is eyeing a spot in the T20 World Cup squad, failed to make a significant impact in the opening match, adding to LSG's list of concerns. However, captain K L Rahul, embracing the role of wicketkeeper-batter with the World Cup in view, showcased his mettle with a 58-run knock and is expected to continue his form.

The team will also be hoping that Quinton de Kock can quickly regain his explosive form, alongside the likes of Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, and Krunal Pandya to fortify the batting lineup. Marcus Stoinis, who was LSG's top scorer last season, remains a critical player for the team's success.

On the opposing side, PBKS hold a balanced record with one win and one loss so far. The team is looking for a boost, especially in the powerplay, with hopes pinned on Jonny Bairstow rediscovering his form. Captain Shikhar Dhawan has also acknowledged the need for a more aggressive approach, having critiqued his own batting pace against RCB.

While Prabhsimran Singh seeks to convert starts into significant scores, Sam Curran has been notable with the bat but needs to do better with his bowling. Jitesh Sharma, aiming for a spot in the World Cup team, and the bowling partnership of Kagiso Rabada, Sam Curran, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshal Patel are pivotal for PBKS's aspirations. Among the spinners, Harpreet Brar has impressed but Rahul Chahar needs to elevate his performance.

Team News
It's still early doors in the tournament and it's unlikely the Super Giants will make changes to a team that has just played 1 game so far. For the Punjab Kings, even as Jonny Bairstow hasn't really got going, he should continue in the XI.

Head-to-Head Record
The two teams have played each other thrice in the IPL before, with Lucknow winning 2 while Punjab have won 1. The last meeting between the two sides saw LSG triumph by 56 runs, a game where Lucknow posted a humongous 257 on the board.

Weather report
It will be a warm evening at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, with no chances of rain. The temperatures will hover between 32°C to 27°C as the match progresses.

Probable XIs
LSG Probable XI: KL Rahul(c/w), Quinton de Kock, Devdutt Padikkal, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur

PBKS Probable XI: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma(w), Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar

Full squads:
Lucknow Super Giants: Devdutt Padikkal, Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, KL Rahul(w/c), Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Shivam Mavi, Amit Mishra, Shamar Joseph, David Willey, Kyle Mayers, Ashton Turner, Krishnappa Gowtham, Prerak Mankad, Yash Thakur, Manimaran Siddharth, Ayush Badoni, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Arshad Khan, Mayank Yadav, Arshin Kulkarni

Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma(w), Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Rilee Rossouw, Tanay Thyagarajan, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Chris Woakes, Rishi Dhawan, Sikandar Raza, Ashutosh Sharma, Atharva Taide, Nathan Ellis, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary, Vishwanath Singh

(With PTI inputs)