Following his criticism of his bowlers’ lack of clinicality against the Rajasthan Royals, Lance Klusener, the assistant coach for LSG, found comfort in an old cliché. “For the time being, we are the masters of our own destiny,” he laughed. “If someone had said to us at the beginning that three-quarters into the competition you could still decide your own destiny, a lot of teams would take it.”
Although LSG have had a decent season so far, the tournament is now at a point where even the strongest teams can have their fate stolen from them in an instant. Ask the 2023 Rajasthan Royals. LSG and numerous other top-four bidders are currently walking a tightrope steadily. Several courageous teams will try to knock them off their feet, starting with the most courageous player on Hardik Pandya’s squad.
The Mumbai Indians are facing a unique cliché as they enter each game needing to win in order to move up out of the bottom spot. Even with only five victories after ten games in the previous season, they advanced to the playoffs. The fact that they are in a somewhat similar position this year (3 victories in 9 games) and that they can overcome the odds from here have kept their teammates’ spirits up.
Despite the fact that the two teams are only separated by four points and three slots in the standings, a poor performance on Tuesday may, in different ways, completely ruin both of their seasons.
Where: April 30, 2024, 7:30 PM IST vs. Mumbai Indians / Lucknow Super Giants
Where: Cricket Stadium Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana, Lucknow
More runs than you anticipated two days ago? Big-hitters abound on the visiting team, who will play this game on a red earth surface.
LSG 3 – 1 MI, head-to-head. In the Eliminator from the previous season, MI defeated LSG.
Group Vigilance
Super Giants of Lucknow
Availability and Injuries: “Mayank is well. Every fitness test he took was passed. Very happy to likely have him back and to have him in tomorrow’s playing potential XII, according to LSG assistant coach Morne Morkel.The 21-year-old, who bowled the night before the match, might replace LSG’s impact player against MI.
Strategies & Matchups: Compared to their usage of Ravi Bishnoi against RR, when he bowled just one over, LSG should utilize him more against MI. Bishnoi could be set for an over or two in the PowerPlay because he matches up well against Suryakumar Yadav [39 Runs | 32 Balls | 3 Dismissals] and Rohit Sharma [34 Runs | 32 Balls | 2 Dismissals].
Likely starting XI: Matt Henry, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, and Quinton de Kock. [Amit Mishra/Mayank Yadav, Impact sub]
Indians from Mumbai
Availability/Injuries: Gerald Coetzee was absent from MI’s match in Delhi two days ago due to a gastrointestinal ailment. It’s unclear if he’ll be ready for Tuesday’s game.
Strategies & Pairings: Left-arm pacing Despite being thoroughly humiliated by the DC batters, Luke Wood might still be useful versus LSG. This season, Quinton de Kock has dropped six times to left-arm pacers. MI should hold onto Wood for this match and consider the differences between bowling in one of the nation’s smallest venues—Delhi—and one of the largest—Lucknow.
MI will also be interested in seeing LSG’s new No. 3 Marcus Stoinis arrive early in the middle. The Australian batsman, who has 16 runs in 26 deliveries and three wickets, finds Bumrah unplayable.
Potential Starting XI: Luke Wood/Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Nehal Wadhera, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Nuwan Thushara [Sub: Suryakumar Yadav, Impact]
Were you aware?
-Tim David has amassed 1437 runs and 124 sixes while hitting at 205.87 at the death in Twenty20 matches since 2022. During this time, no one else has more than 1000 runs.
-Against MI, KL Rahul has scored three of his four IPL hundreds.
What they expressed:
Quinny has scored three 50s this season, which is not a bad thing. Furthermore, he was dismissed in the first or second overs as well. Quinny is the type of man that has the ability to steal the game from you on any given day. I don’t think you want to modify that given the experience he brings to the table.” – Despite a wildly inconsistent season at bat, LSG assistant coach Morne Morkel emphasizes the importance of Quinton de Kock to the team.
