In T20s, anchors may no longer be fashionable, but when KL Rahul and Shubman Gill are squaring up against one another, the conditions better apply to the match. And the scene is set for it in Lucknow. The teams will face off on a used black-soil surface on Saturday in the afternoon, so anyone trying to keep track of sixes might want to look elsewhere.
At this stage of their campaign, Gujarat Titans wouldn't mind such circumstances. They have struggled to hold onto totals this season, losing both of their games, and have frequently been defeated by teams that outmuscle them with heavy hits. Instead, Lucknow might use this field and the nearly similar ground measurements on both sides of the square to their advantage, which is limiting the amount of dot balls. The defending champions also have a five-day break coming up, providing them a fresh perspective on what has been, at best, an erratic season. And what better club to open against than LSG, whom they defeated the previous season to become the first team to reach the Play-offs.
The Lucknow Super Giants have the chance to build on their outstanding victory in Jaipur. Kyle Mayers performed admirably under pressure on a slow field at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, scoring his fifty at an unusually high strike rate of 120. Avesh Khan's breakthrough performance couldn't have come at a better time for LSG, who play three of their next four games at home. It was also the game where Avesh Khan's season really got going. They would welcome the opportunity to begin it with their first-ever triumph over GT, a team they failed to defeat in two tries the previous season.
Teams
Lucknow Super Giants
It appears doubtful that Quinton de Kock will get a chance after Mayers' fifty in the most recent game despite the fact that he batted alongside KL Rahul during practice. Given that Naveen-ul-Haq started the afternoon game well in Mark Wood's absence, he is unlikely to play the morning game either. Mark Wood missed the previous game in Jaipur. When bowling to players like Jos Buttler, Shimron Hetmyer, and Yashasvi Jaiswal on his IPL debut, the Afghanistan bowler appeared unflappable, and he will be eager to replicate that at home.
Tactics & matchups: Kyle Mayers strikes at under 89 against left-arm pacers and will have to come out trumps against the challenge of Joshua Little.
Probable XI: KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran(w), Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ravi Bishnoi
Gujarat Titans
Vijay Shankar has been in and out with back spasms and even missed the last game. If he's fit, he should slot back right in for Abhinav Manohar.
Tactics & matchups: Expect Rashid Khan to bowl in the PowerPlay to KL Rahul, whom he has dismissed thrice already. The LSG opener averages 6 and strikes at 60 against the legspinner.
Probable XI: Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar/Abhinav Manohar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma/Noor Ahmad (Impact Player)
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