 "Lucknow Super Giants are looking to bounce back in form in IPL 2024. AP")
A set of probing questionnaires awaits the Lucknow Super Giants on their home turf as Chennai Super Kings’ cerebral bowling unit will look to use its variation to the fullest on a two-paced Ekana Stadium track during their IPL clash on Friday. The two teams endured contrasting fortunes in their previous couple of matches. While Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team, still ‘marshalled’ by the peerless Mahendra Singh Dhoni, is coming into the game with back-to-back victories, LSG under KL Rahul have endured a mini-slump with successive defeats.
With LSG’s batting unit not exactly inspiring the highest level of confidence despite its firepower, it remains to be seen how it tackles an attack where each bowler brings something different to the table.
Matheesha Pathirana, with his yorkers, is literally unplayable at the death, while Mustafizur Rahman has at least three variations of cutters, including one with scrambled seam.
Ravindra Jadeja, on tracks where the ball grips like it often happens at the Ekana, could be more than a handful. At Lucknow, it could be an option to play the extra spinner in Maheesh Theekshana to make full use of the conditions.
The average first innings score in Lucknow this season has been 175, which is at least 15 sub-par compared to some of the other grounds, and this is exactly the kind of total where Dhoni, like the seasoned ‘Concert Master’ of an orchestra team, controls the ‘pitch and tune’.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsLucknow, on the other hand, have had issues with injuries. Their young pace sensation Mayank Yadav had to sit out of the last two games after suffering lower abdominal strain after playing just two and a quarter games.
The 21-year-old has resumed training on Wednesday and his blistering pace could seriously have an impact on the match as most of the other bowlers playing this game are either medium-fast or fast medium. But there is still no clarity if Mayank will be playing on Friday.
In the spin department, Ravi Bishnoi has been bowling tight spells, but his one dimensional skill of bowling one googly after another has been found out as he got only four wickets in the six game so far.
Bishnoi vs a rampaging Shivam Dube will be a mouth-watering contest and will add a spicy sub-plot to the main battle.
The batting is a bigger issue for LSG as one of their mainstays Quinton de Kock, after consecutive half-tons, has hit a rough patch in the previous three games. Even skipper KL Rahul hasn’t been at his best and his safe starts have been more damaging than beneficial. Young Ayush Badoni too seems to be playing for his place in the side. Only Nicholas Pooran, with 19 sixes in six games, have looked dangerous.
Ahead of the LSG vs CSK game, here’s everything you need to know about the match.
LSG vs CSK head-to-head
Only three matches have been played between these two sides with both franchises winning one game each while one match yielded no result.
When is the LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL?
The LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL will be played on 19 April 2024 (Friday).
Where will the LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL be played?
The LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL will be played at the Ekana Sports City in Lucknow.
W****hat time will the LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL start?
The LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL will start at 7.30 PM IST with the toss taking place at 7 PM IST.
Where can we watch the LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL on TV in India?
The LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL will be broadcast on Star Sports Network TV channels in India.
Where can we live stream the LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL in India?
The LSG vs CSK 2024 match in IPL will be live streamed on JioCinema.
With PTI inputs