Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will play Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 63 of IPL 2022 on 15 May, at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai.
Win this game and Lucknow have booked their place in the Playoffs, while RR can virtually guarantee themselves a spot, given that they have a net run rate superior to the teams immediately below them. Royal Challengers Bangalore, who currently occupy fourth spot, have played a game more. That means that the stakes could not be higher for both sides ahead of this contest.
Lucknow had been the form team in the IPL, having recorded four wins on the bounce, until that run was rudely interrupted by the other new franchise team, the Gujarat Titans, who booked their own playoffs place after a 62-run victory.
Meanwhile, Rajasthan have begun to stumble in sight of the finish line. The defeat against to the Delhi Capitals was their third in the last five matches.
This match features the two leading contenders for the Orange Cap, although realistically at this stage it is hard to see how Lucknow captain K.L. Rahul could overtake Rajasthan’s Jos Buttler. However, Buttler has lacked the fluency he displayed in the first part of the season, and will be hoping to rediscover his best form again. Rahul, too, has had his own struggles with the bat of late, and Lucknow need him to play an important innings here.
Rajasthan also boast the owner of this season's Purple Cap, Yuzvendra Chahal, who will be keen to add to his haul of 24 wickets. As important, though, will be keeping it tight: the Brabourne track so far ahs tended to favour batting, so any bowler who can keep it tight will be especially valuable for their side.
Likely Teams:
Lucknow Super Giants: K.L. Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Evin Lewis, Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Mohsin Khan, Ayush Badoni, Dushmantha Chameera, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Rassie van der Dussen, Riyan Parag, R. Ashwin, Trent Boult, Prasidh Krishna, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen
Fantasy Tips:
• Rajasthan will be looking to Buttler to find his form again and to give them a good start;
• Pick Chahal as can also be expected to press his Purple Cap credentials;
Prediction:
Given what is at stake, nerves on both sides can be expected. However, LSG were the form team in the IPL before their recent defeat, and will be looking to get back to winning ways again.
Streaming:
‘Match 63 between LSG and RR will start at 19:30 on Sunday, 15 May. You can watch the match on the Star Network and Hotstar.