The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have had a bumpy ride this season, struggling to maintain their position in the top-four race. However, with the upcoming Karnataka elections, RCB has a chance to climb up the points table.
On May 1, 2023, RCB will face off against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. The stadium’s pitch conditions differ from the Chinnaswamy, and RCB will embark on a six-game road trip starting Monday.
RCB’s bowlers have found it challenging to adapt to the true pitches at home this season, but they’ll relish the opportunity to bowl on a venue that has the lowest average first innings score this season (152). RCB’s top batsmen, Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell, will need to adjust their game to suit the challenging ground conditions.
LSG has had mixed results playing in Lucknow. Their batting unit scored an impressive 257 on a true belter in Mohali, but they’ve struggled on sluggish home pitches. However, their bowlers have made the most of the conditions, taking 30 wickets in four games and having the best average, strike rate, and economy rate for a home side this season.
According to the pitch report, batting will be challenging for both teams. The average first innings score of 152 is the lowest across venues this season. Thunderstorms are expected an hour before the game, but it’s not expected to affect the match.
RCB has a 2-1 lead over LSG in their head-to-head encounters, with RCB batting first in all three games. Marcus Stoinis’s availability will depend on his fitness test on Sunday (April 30).
LSG Probable XI – KL Rahul (c), Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis/Quinton de Kock, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Naveen Ul-Haq, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Yash Thakur/Yudhvir Singh Charak
RCB Probable XI – Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, Shahbaz Ahmed, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik, Suyash Prabhudessai/Karn Sharma, David Willey, Wanindu Hasaranga, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Mohammed Siraj
In conclusion, both RCB and LSG will be looking for a much-needed win despite their different strengths and weaknesses. Although the pitch and weather conditions may not be ideal, it’s an opportunity for both teams to demonstrate their mettle and adapt to challenging circumstances. With the top-four race becoming more intense with each passing game, RCB and LSG will be hoping to come out on top in this critical match and gain some momentum in the tournament.
