The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teams will compete in an exciting match. This match, number 34, will take place at Lucknow’s cricket stadium on April 19th. It is part of IPL 2024.
So far, Lucknow has had an up-and-down season under captain KL Rahul’s leadership. After six games played, they have three wins and three losses. Their position on the points table is fifth currently. Lucknow’s net run rate stands at 0.038.
LSG lost their past two games versus DC and KKR. Defeating the current champions Chennai now would lift team spirits. This contest is pivotal, so triumph could bolster confidence tremendously.
On the flip side, CSK takes third spot, with four wins from six matches. They boast a 0.726 net run rate. After recent triumphs against KKR and MI, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team rides high.
Throughout history, these teams have clashed thrice. Lucknow and Chennai each claimed victory once, while one match ended inconclusive.
Three important battles could change the match’s flow when LSG meets CSK. We examine these key individual contests.
1. Ravi Bishnoi (LSG) vs Ruturaj Gaikwad (CSK)
Chennai captain Ruturaj Gaikwad is in fine form this IPL season. The right-handed batsman ranks second in his team’s run-scorers, making 224 runs across six matches at 44.80. His 69 off 40 balls shone vs Mumbai as CSK won by 20 runs.
However, Gaikwad faces a stern test on Lucknow’s spin-friendly pitch against Ravi Bishnoi. The LSG leg-spinner has just 4 wickets from 6 games but boasts an economy of 7.82. Gaikwad has scored 17 off 11 vs Bishnoi who dismissed him once.
2. Nicholas Pooran (LSG) vs Matheesha Pathirana (CSK)
The team from Lucknow depends on explosive batting from Nicholas Pooran in the mid overs and at the end. The left-hand batter has amazed viewers with his rapid scoring in IPL 2024.
Pooran tops LSG’s run-scorers having scored 223 from six innings at a strike rate of 161.59, showing remarkable reliability for his squad this year.
CSK’s greatest chance against Pooran could be Matheesha Pathirana. The slingy pacer from Sri Lanka has eight wickets in three games, with an economy rate of 7.33.
Pooran and Pathirana have only played once in the IPL. Pooran scored six runs off nine balls against Pathirana and got out to him in the 2023 edition.
3. Marcus Stoinis (LSG) vs Ravindra Jadeja (CSK)
Marcus Stoinis, the all-rounder from Australia, faced difficulties with his form in IPL 2024. Except for scoring 58 runs against Gujarat Titans (GT), he couldn’t make a significant impact with the bat. His spin-bowling struggles were evident. Five times out of six innings this season, he lost his wickets to spinners. Chennai might consider bringing in left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja to exploit Stoinis’ weakness.
In the IPL, Jadeja has removed Stoinis twice after bowling him 15 balls. Marcus Stoinis has faced left-arm spinners six times in the league, and his strike rate falls to 105.51 against them.
