Bottom-placed Lucknow Super Giants are preparing to take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. It's a challenging task for LSG, who are fighting to keep fading hopes alive; RCB are looking to tighten their grip on a playoff position.
Talking about LSG, this has been the worst season for them, impacted by missed opportunities. They currently sit at the bottom of the table, coming off six consecutive defeats. The biggest issue for LSG has been timing. Whenever the batting clicked, the bowling struggled to maintain rhythm. When the bowlers delivered strong spells, the batting line-up failed to perform. And for them this match against RCB is no longer only about points or playoff calculations but rather pride.
Undoubtedly, they are a strong team capable of challenging RCB. Now, facing the defending champions, it will be a final opportunity for LSG to show character in a campaign that has repeatedly slipped away from them. In this season, even if Lucknow manage to win all five of their remaining matches, they would only reach 14 points, which realistically won't be enough to secure them a place in the playoffs.
RCB, on the other hand, are in a comfortable position. Their season has not been flawless, but it has been controlled. Notably, every defeat has been followed by a convincing win that has kept RCB in a strong position in the tournament. For them, two more wins from the remaining five matches will be enough to confirm qualification for the playoffs.
Head-to-head
Matches - 7
LSG won - 2
RCB won - 5
LSG possible XII: Mitch Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c&wk), Aiden Markram, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Moshin Khan, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, M Siddharth
RCB possible XII: Virat Kohli, Jacob Bethell, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Suyash Sharma, Rasikh Salam