Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were eliminated from the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 after losing to Mumbai Indians (MI) by 81 runs in the Eliminator on Wednesday, May 24. The knockout match was a regrettably one-sided affair, as the margin of loss shows.
Mumbai Indians won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring 182/8 on the board. Cameron Green led the way with 41 runs off 23 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav added 33 off 20.
Tilak Varma’s (26 off 22) and Nehal Wadhera’s (23 off 12) cameos helped MI to a competitive score. LSG were in the hunt in the chase at 69/2 in the ninth over. However, Lucknow’s middle and lower order were swept out for 101 in 16.3 overs with Akash Madhwal’s 5/5.
LSG, who debuted in the IPL in 2022, were eliminated in the Eliminator for the second time in a row. Last year, they were defeated by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 14 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, despite Rajat Patidar’s magnificent 112* off 54 balls.
A few Lucknow players have represented the club in both IPL seasons, although their results have been mixed.
On that not, let’s take a look at three cricketers whose forms changed dramatically between IPL 2022 and IPL 2023, both for good and bad.
1) Deepak Hooda
Deepak Hooda was one of the standout batsmen for LSG in IPL 2022.
He scored 451 runs in 15 matches, with an average of 32.21 and a strike rate of 136.67. Hooda had four half-centuries and a best of 59. While he did not achieve a large score, he came in on many times and changed the tide in his team’s favour with some rapid hits.
Lucknow were in the game till Hooda took the crease in the Eliminator against RCB. The right-handed batter hit 45 off only 26 balls, including one four and four sixes.
However, his ejection to Wanindu Hasaranga swung the game in RCB’s favour. Despite KL Rahul’s 58-ball 79, Lucknow concluded on 193/6 in a 208-run chase.
Hooda, on the other hand, had a disastrous IPL 2023 season. During the season, his stats approximate those of tailenders.
He scored 84 runs in 12 matches, with an average of 7.64 and a strike rate of 93.33. Throughout his time in the middle, he never appeared to be at ease.
Hooda failed to reward LSG’s confidence for the majority of the season, putting up a pretty poor performance with the willow.
2) Marcus Stoinis
Marcus Stoinis, Lucknow’s batting all-rounder, had a difficult season with the willow in IPL 2022.
He appeared in 11 matches, scoring 156 runs at a strike rate of 147.17 and an average of 19.50. His top score was 38*.
To be fair to Stoinis, the figures are a little deceiving because he was employed as the designated finisher last year and only saw a few deliveries in most games. Nonetheless, considering Stoinis’ talent, greater results were expected.
This year, LSG learned their mistake and provided Stoinis with several opportunities
to demonstrate his worth. And the Australian powerhouse did not disappoint.
In 15 matches, he scored 408 runs at an average of 31.38 and a strike rate of 150, with three fifty-plus scores.
Stoinis’ highest of 89* came off 47 balls against Mumbai in Lucknow, with four fours and up to eight sixes. He also smashed 72 off 40 balls against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at Mohali.
Prior to that, his 30-ball 65 helped LSG chase down 213 against RCB in Bengaluru. Even in the Eliminator, he was the lone batsman, providing 40 runs on 27 balls
3) Avesh Khan
Avesh Khan had a great IPL 2022 season in which he made the ball talk.
He took 18 wickets in 13 matches, at an average of 23.11 and an economy rate of 8.73. He also bowled some tight overs at the end, helping LSG to a
At the Brabourne Stadium, the 26-year-old also bowled 3/30 as Lucknow defeated Mumbai by 18 runs. Avesh’s wickets include the colossal Rohit Sharma. The right-arm bowler was named Player of the Match after taking 3/19 in a 75-run thrashing of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Avesh’s fortunes in the IPL 2023 were drastically different from last season. He only played nine matches, but he took eight scalps with an average of 35.38 and an economy rate of 9.76.
The pacer started the season with a brilliant 2/29 over the Delhi Capitals (DC). Avesh also took 3/25 in LSG’s 10-run win over Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Jaipur stunning victory under pressure.
Avesh was named Player of the Match for his outstanding 4/24 efforts as Lucknow Super Giants defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 12 runs at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai, defending a total of 169.
