🏏 IPL 2024 ~ Match N 26 ~ LSG vs DC in Lucknow @7.30 PM IST 🏏

🏏 IPL 2024 ~ Match N 26

LSG vs DC in Lucknow

@7.30 PM IST 🏏

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are set to battle it out in a crunch Indian Premier League (IPL) tie in Match 26 of the 2024 edition. The match will be played at the EKANA Stadium in Lucknow, on Friday, April 12.

LSG began their season with a loss against Rajasthan Royals but they came back strongly by winning their next three games in a row. They currently find themselves third in the league behind RR and KKR.

DC, on the other hand, are off to a poor start in the new season having won just once in their first five matches. They are currently at the rock bottom of the league.

Head-to-head record

Rahul-led LSG will walk in the middle with a whole lot of confidence after having a 100%-win percentage against DC over the years. Out of the three matches played between both teams DC have failed to secure a victory. After languishing at the bottom of the table, the Capitals will also eye their first win over Lucknow to get back to winning ways.

Did you know?

KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran are among the top 5 run scorers at the Ekana Stadium in IPL who are likely to feature in LSG’s clash against the Delhi Capitals as well. With all three of them in top form, it will be interesting to see how they find ways to seep through the DC bowling unit.

Big picture - Spin to win again?

Lucknow Super Giants started the season with a defeat, but have won three on the bounce since. Their most recent victory came against Gujarat Titans on a spin-friendly pitch at home. LSG's spinners were central to that result - Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi and M Siddharth combined for figures of 10-0-48-4 to help defend 163 - and they could consider laying out a similar surface on Friday, especially against the visiting Delhi Capitals.

Batting has been a struggle for the Capitals this season. Their collective average of 23.35 is the lowest among all teams, and they have had to deal with the absence of key players like Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Marsh due to injuries. So that doubles Capitals' worries: a misfiring batting line-up on a potentially spin-friendly pitch, and Capitals have the second lowest batting average against spin (28.44) this season behind Kolkata Knight Riders.

Unlike LSG, Capitals come into the contest having lost their previous two games and are at the bottom of the table with just one win in their first five matches. And they are still looking for their first win against LSG, having lost all three of their matches so far.

Team news and Impact Player strategy

Lucknow Super Giants

Fast bowler Mayank Yadav had walked off the field after bowling one over in their last game, against Titans. LSG said he will have his workload managed over the coming week as a "precaution", and head coach Justin Langer all but ruled him out of the next two games. LSG also continue to wait on the fitness of Mohsin, who had a sore hamstring and missed his side's last two games.

If both Mayank and Mohsin miss out against DC, LSG could play left-arm pacer Arshad Khan or right-arm quick Yudhvir Singh. They have two other overseas fast-bowling options in Matt Henry and Shamar Joseph.

Probable XII: 1 Quinton de Kock, 2 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Marcus Stoinis, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Ayush Badoni, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Ravi Bishnoi, 9 Yash Thakur, 10 Naveen-ul-Haq, 11 Arshad Khan, 12 M Siddharth

Delhi Capitals

Ricky Ponting, the Capitals coach, is hopeful that Kuldeep and Mukesh Kumar will be available to play in Lucknow. Marsh, however, is still side-lined by injury.

Probable XII: 1 Prithvi Shaw, 2 David Warner, 3 Abishek Porel, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Lalit Yadav, 8 Jhye Richardson, 9 Anrich Nortje, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Khaleel Ahmed, 12 Kumar Kushagra

In the spotlight - Nicholas Pooran and Tristan Stubbs

Nicholas Pooran is LSG's top run-scorer so far this season - 178 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 169.52. He has been especially impactful in the death overs, where his six-hitting abilities takes his strike rate up to 180. Pooran has been dismissed only once so far this season, and holds the key to LSG getting a strong finish to their innings.

Tristan Stubbs has been Capitals' best batter this season. He is their top-scorer with 174 runs and has been particularly good against spin. His strike rate of 207 against the spinners is the highest for anyone who has faced at least 35 balls, so he will be key against LSG's spinners on the day.

Stats that matter

• In the IPL, Quinton de Kock's combined record against Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel and Khaleel Ahmed stands at 193 runs at an average of 64.33. All four are expected to start for Capitals against LSG on Friday. Ishant, Nortje and Axar have got de Kock once each, with Khaleel yet to dismiss him.

• At 13.43, Nortje has the highest economy rate for any bowler to have bowled at least 90 balls this season. Umesh Yadav, second on the list, has conceded at 10.55 per over.

• Since 2022, LSG have won nine of their 18 home games, the third highest win-loss ratio among all teams. By contrast, DC have won only six out of 17 away games, the fewest by any team.

Thanks for the tag dear.

Today’s Match Prediction: Lucknow Super Giants to win the match

Scenario 1

Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and opt to bat.

Powerplay score: 45-55

First innings score: 165-175

Lucknow Super Giants win the match.

Scenario 2

Delhi Capitals win the toss and opt to bat.

Powerplay score: 35-45

First innings score: 155-165

Lucknow Super Giants win the match.

Thanks for the thread and tagging me, Parm

Best wishes to both teams.