Currently placed third with 12 points from 10 matches, Lucknow has shown promise with six wins and four defeats. However, Kolkata Knight Riders, positioned second with 14 points, presented a formidable opponent.
The pressure is on Lucknow Super Giants to maintain their position, with Sunrisers Hyderabad closely trailing at fourth place with 12 points. Additionally, the threat posed by Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals, each with 10 points, adds to the intensity of the race for the final-four berths. LSG must rise to the occasion and secure crucial points to avoid being drawn into a mid-table battle.
Head to head stats:
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Lucknow Super Giants hold the upper hand against Kolkata Knight Riders in their head-to-head encounters, with LSG securing three wins out of their four matchups, leaving KKR with just one victory.
Also see: IPL live score
Pitch Report:
The pitch at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow has showcased contrasting characteristics throughout the tournament. Initially offering good pace and bounce in the first match, it later transitioned into a traditional slow and sluggish wicket. Batting on this surface will be challenging, setting the stage for a closely contested battle between bat and ball.
Also see: IPL match result
Ground history of IPL 2024:
In terms of ground statistics for IPL 2024 at Ekana Cricket Stadium, the team batting second has found success in four out of six matches. The average first innings total stands at 174, while the average second innings total is slightly lower at 167. Notably, the highest total recorded at this venue was 199/3 by Rajasthan Royals against Lucknow Super Giants, while the lowest total was 130/10 by Gujarat Titans, also against Lucknow.
Fantasy Value from pitch report:
Considering the pitch report, batting in the second innings has appeared more comfortable in recent games. However, historically, Ekana has favored defending totals. Therefore, top-order batsmen are likely to play crucial roles, with spinners and pacers equipped with effective slower deliveries expected to influence the outcome of the game significantly.
Key Players:
1. KL Rahul has been a standout performer for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2024, amassing 406 runs in 10 innings. His consistency and ability to play pivotal innings make him a reliable pick for fantasy contests. He is on second position in IPL 2024 Orange Cap race.
2. Sunil Narine of Kolkata Knight Riders has been a key player, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. With 380 runs and 13 wickets in 10 matches, Narine’s form and impact on the game make him a safe choice for fantasy teams. He is currently fifth in IPL 2024 Purple Cap race.
3. Marcus Stoinis, the Australian all-rounder for Lucknow Super Giants, had a slow start to the tournament but has picked up momentum in recent matches. With 316 runs in 10 matches and valuable contributions with the ball, Stoinis’ current all-round form makes him an attractive option for fantasy contests.
Squads:
Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c&wk), Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Shamar Joseph, Yash Thakur, Manimaran Siddharth, Prerak Mankad, Arshad Khan , Krishnappa Gowtham, Amit Mishra, Kyle Mayers, Ashton Turner, Matt Henry, Naveen-ul-Haq, Devdutt Padikkal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Mayank Yadav, Arshin Kulkarni.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), KS Bharat (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine , Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Allah Ghazanfar, Phil Salt.
Dream11 fantasy value:
Wicketkeepers: KL Rahul, Nicholas Pooran, Phil Salt
Batters: Shreyas Iyer, Riku Singh
All-rounders: Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Marcus Stoinis
Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi
