LSG vs PBKS Match Preview- IPL 2024, Match 11

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) takes on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match 11 of IPL 2024 on Saturday in Lucknow. This is LSG’s first match at home this season. The franchise managed to win just three home games last year. 

LSG are heading into this game after losing their campaign opener against Rajasthan Royals. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, lost their previous game against RCB after winning their season opener against Delhi Capitals. 

Date and Venue

The LSG vs PBKS IPL 2024 match will be played in Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium on March 30, Saturday from 7.30 pm IST. Both teams won one game each last season. Interestingly Punjab Kings won by two wickets against LSG the last time they played in Lucknow.

LSG vs PBKS Match Preview- IPL 2024, Match 11

Lucknow Super Giants 

Lucknow Super Giants failed to chase down 194 in their season opener on March 25. They are playing their second game after a five-day break. They will be playing their first game at home. The Super Giants found it tough to win games at home last season. The batters especially found it difficult to counter the spin on the pitch. 

The Ekana track historically has been a spinning-friendly track over the years. Lucknow have two good spinners. However, making it a rank turner might pose a threat to the batters like it did last year. The franchise has yet to find the right combination. Rahul was supposed to bat in the middle-order. However, he opened in the first game. 

The challenge for the franchise will be preparing tacks that allow them to win at home which has been a feature in the IPL. Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi, have two good spinners which the oppositions need to be wary of. The combination they have for their first game at home will be an interesting observation. 

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LSG Squad 

KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Devdutt Padikkal, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya, Yudhvir Singh, Prerak Mankad, Yash Thakur, Amit Mishra, Shamar Joseph, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, K. Gowtham, Shivam Mavi, Arshin Kulkarni, M. Siddharth, Ashton Turner, David Willey, Mohd. Arshad Khan. 

Punjab Kings 

PBKs chased down 177 against Delhi Capitals but failed to defend 176 against RCB. They will be on the road for the next two games and the challenge for them will be to win away games. They won their first game at the newly built stadium in Mullanpur.

So far in the first two games, batting seems to be the stronger suit of PBKS. There is over-dependence on Shikhar Dhawan but they have other batters to trust on as well. The biggest concern in the batting department is to produce runs from Jonny Bairstow. Being an overseas cricketer there will be pressure on him to perform. He has been struggling since the Test series against India. 

Since this pitch aids spinners more than pacers, Punjab have two good spinners Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar. They can add a third spinner in Sikandar Raza by dropping Sam Curran for this game. The change can be tactical. Liam Livingstone can fill in the role of the fourth spinner. 

Another big problem for the Kings so far has been Harshal Patel’s expensive return in the death overs. He was taken for 24 in his final over against DC and against RCB, he went for 45 of his four overs. How they use him in Lucknow will be an interesting observation. 

PBKS Squad 

Shikhar Dhawan (c), Matthew Short, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Tanay Thyagarajann, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw. 

Key Battles

KL Rahul vs Kagiso Rabada

In case KL Rahul, decides to open again, he will have to face up against Kagiso Rabada who took three wickets in the first two games. Rabada’s express pace might trouble KL Rahul when he is fresh in his innings and the two-bouncer rule might help Rabada

Shikhar Dhawan vs Mohsin Khan 

Dhawan will open the batting for the Punjab Kings. He will have to come up against the likes of Naveen Ul Haq and Mohsin Khan. The two move the ball in different directions. While Naveen predominantly is an inswing bowler, Mohsin can shape the ball away from the batters. We have seen Dhawan chop on against the pacers early on in his innings. 

Liam Livingstone vs Ravi Bishnoi 

This can be an intriguing battle. Livingstone blasts the spinners right from the get-go and the wily Bishnoi will look to outdo him early on in his innings. The England hard-hitter has a reputation of being a big-hitter in T20 cricket.

Key Players

For LSG, KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Nicholas Pooran will be key with the bat. With the ball. Naveen, Mohsin and the two spinners Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi will be key. 

For Punjab Kings, Shikhar Dhawan is their biggest key with the bat alongside, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, and Sikandar Raza is he plays. Given the conditions, he should replace Sam Curran in the XI. With the ball, Rabada, Harshal, and the spin twins Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar will be key.

Weather and Pitch

The weather conditions for this game will be around 28 degrees with clear weather conditions and no chance of rain. The impact of dew might make a difference in the match. 

Speaking about the pitch, the Lucknow track historically has been a spinning wicket. Last year LSG won just three home games and the turning conditions posed problems for batters. A score between 150-160 might be a challenging total.

Conclusion

 So far the two teams have played three games in the IPL. Last year they won one game each. PBKS won in Lucknow while the Super Giants won in Mohali. Winning games at home will be key for LSGH who just won three home games last season. 

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