Fourth-placed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will play third-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Match 31 of IPL 2022, on 19 April at the game will be played at the Dr D.Y. Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai.
The teams have identical records, having played six matches and won four each, separated only by net run rate. Lucknow and Bangalore also come into the match with their tails up, having beaten the Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals respectively.
Bangalore have reached here despite some big-name players failing to find form. Captain Faf du Plessis has struggled with bat, while Virat Kohli’s recent frustrations continue. Thankfully, the arrival of Glenn Maxwell came at an opportune time. He blasted 55 of 34 balls against the DC to announce his return to the IPL. Maxwell’s Australian colleague, Josh Hazlewood, is starting to show the form that makes him one of the top fast bowlers in international cricket.
The revelation of the season, however, has been Dinesh Karthik, who has been scoring both consistently and quickly in the death overs. Almost 37, Karthik has struck at 209 this season and has been dismissed only once. Not only has he bailed Bangalore out multiple times, but he has also placed a claim for a place in the Indian T20I squad.
Lucknow, one of the two expansion franchises of the season, have been splendid so far. K.L. Rahul is third, so far, in the table of leading run scorers this year, whilst Quinton de Kock seems to have rediscovered the zest that has made him one of the top performers in limited overs’ cricket in recent years.
And with the addition of Jason Holder and Marcus Stoinis to the many all-rounders in the squad, they have depth in both batting and bowling, and also valuable experience.
Judged on results so far on this pitch, any score above 170 might be difficult to chase down, but the usual tactic for the captain that wins the toss is to bowl first.
Likely Teams:
Lucknow Super Giants: K.L. Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Manish Pandey, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni, Jason Holder, Dushmantha Chameera, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (c), Anuj Rawat, Virat Kohli, Glenn Maxwell, Suyash Prabhudessai, Shahbaz Ahmed, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Wanindu Hasaranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood
Fantasy Tips:
- Pick Maxwell. He has been excellent since his reintroduction to the IPL, and will look to maintain that reputation.
- There is an old adage of form being temporary, class permanent. Kohli is due to come good soon. Maybe tonight.
- Hasaranga can change games with his leg spin, even on flat wickets. Pick him. He can also find boundaries.
- Pick as many Lucknow all-rounders as you can. Holder, Stoinis, Hooda, Pandya...
- Go for Rahul and de Kock.
Streaming
Match 31 between LSG and RCB will start at 19:30 on Friday, April 15th. You can watch the match on the Star Network and Hotstar.