IPL 2023 is giving us all the excitement we were waiting for and now it’s time for another super clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Sunrisers Hyderabad which is set to be played on Friday.
On one end where KL Rahul & Co. have already played two matches, the Sunrisers on the other hand, will play their second game after their huge loss to Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad.
LSG mentor Gautam Gambhir has made a huge impact on the side right from their first season when the team reached the playoffs. They started off well this season with a victory over Delhi Capitals by 50 runs followed by a loss in a crunch game against Chennai Super Kings.
Sunrisers Hyderabad lost their opening battle against the Royals by a huge margin of 72 runs which would have hampered their confidence. They would like to grab a much-needed victory against LSG in Lucknow and with the in-form duo of skipper Aiden Markram and Heinrich Klassen entering the SRH fold, this outing should please the fans.
What have they done so far?
It’s still the early part of the tournament and both teams have got ample chances to prove their worth. So far, Rahul’s Lucknow has won one and lost one respectively. The win against Delhi Capitals will be a huge boost going forward keeping in mind the net run rate in the big league.
The loss against Chennai Super Kings by 12 runs must have pinched the side but losing a game by a narrow margin will not hamper their rate much. From a batting point of view, Kyle Mayers is having a golden run with the willow and LSG fans would want him to conquer each game he plays.
He scored a remarkable 73 of just 38 deliveries against the Capitals at home. The bowling department is also sorted with the way Mark Wood has performed so far. With 8 wickets to his name, he is the top wicket-taker in the tournament to date.
Talking about Sunrisers Hyderabad, they had a terrible outing against Rajasthan Royals with nobody performing up to the expectation. Only T Natarajan was a bit economical and picked up a couple of wickets.
The Men in Orange need to focus on their strength to bring back their lost touch. The game against Super Giants won’t be an easy one but they have all the capability to change their fortunes.
Head to Head Record
Both Lucknow and Hyderabad have met for just one time in the IPL where Lucknow defeated Hyderabad by 12 runs. It was a close encounter which went in favour of KL Rahul & Co. Now, it’s a perfect occasion for SRH to take revenge at their home.
Key Players
Kyle Mayers: If this player gets going then it is going to be very difficult for the Sunrisers to get back into the game. Mayers is a top-notch powerful hitter who showed everyone what he could do in the opening game of LSG.
Mayers was terrific against Chennai Super Kings as well with 53 runs off just 22 deliveries. He is the second-highest scorer in the league right now with Ruturaj Gaikwad sitting at the top. Mayers has a great chance of scoring here and grabbing the orange cap in the beginning.
Mayank Agarwal: Mayank Agarwal might not be a powerful hitter like Mayers but he has all the capability to play a long innings to keep the scoreboard moving. He has been dangerous as well in the past while opening for Punjab Kings alongside KL Rahul, so the right-hander has to take his time and then make the best out of the opportunity.
A couple of good innings from him can help him get back in the rhythm. It is a crucial season for him keeping in mind the World Cup later this year. Though he has been out of the limited-overs squad right now, some special innings can do wonders for him.
Predicted XIs
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul ©, Kyle Mayers, Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Mark Wood, Jaydev Unadkat, Ravi Bishnopi, Avesh Khan
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Mayank Agarwal, Abhishek Sharma, Rahul Tripathi, Aiden Markram ©, Harry Brook, Heinrich Klaasen, Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan, Umran Malik, Fazalhaq Farooqi
Prediction
Undoubtedly, Lucknow Super Giants are favorites to win this battle keeping in mind their brilliant run so far. They have made big scores and will surely bat well in this encounter as well. Bhuvi & Co. need to stop the run-flow if they want to make their chances in this battle. Overall, Lucknow has a better chance to gain victory.
