The excitement is brewing up as the IPL 2023 season gears up for a nail-biting match between Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The match is crucial for both teams as they aim to continue their winning streaks.
Pitch #6 on the square, made of black soil, will be the battleground for these two teams. The pitch has been used before, and it might not be easy for big hitters to score sixes. However, the dryness of the square and the curator’s efforts should make it playable this season. In the previous three IPL games on this pitch, the scores were relatively low.
The temperature in Lucknow has decreased recently, which is fortunate for the players. However, playing an afternoon game can be challenging, and the players should be prepared for any weather conditions.
Probable XI
Lucknow Super Giants are expected to play KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, Avesh Khan, and Kyle Mayers in the top order. Gujarat Titans are likely to exclude Mark Wood and play Naveen-ul-Haq instead.
The Probable XI for both the teams are:
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Shubman Gill, Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi.
Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 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.
Lucknow Super Giants’ victory against Rajasthan Royals was a fantastic start, and they hope to continue their success against Gujarat Titans. Avesh Khan and Kyle Mayers were the standout performers in the previous match. On the other hand, Gujarat Titans are struggling to defend their totals this season, losing two games in a row. They are hoping that the dry pitch and ground dimensions work in their favor.
One of the key matchups to watch out for will be Kyle Mayers against Joshua Little. Mayers’ strike rate against left-arm pacers is under 89, and he needs to overcome Little’s challenge to score runs. Another interesting matchup is KL Rahul vs. Rashid Khan. In IPL matches, Rahul has been dismissed by Rashid Khan thrice, and the leg-spinner is hoping to add to his tally in this game.
The LSG vs. GT match is expected to be an exciting one, with both teams playing to win. Fans can anticipate an afternoon of high-quality cricket with close contests.
