The Lucknow Super Giants had a loss to begin the season, but they have subsequently won three straight. On a spin-friendly pitch at home against Gujarat Titans, they recently emerged victorious. Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, and M Siddharth combined for figures of 10-0-48-4 to help defend 163, and LSG’s spinners were instrumental in that outcome. They should think about setting up a similar surface on Friday, particularly against the visiting Delhi Capitals.
This season, the Capitals have struggled at bat. They have the lowest team average of any club at 23.35, and they have had to cope with the injuries that have kept important players like Mitchell Marsh and Kuldeep Yadav out of the lineup. That raises two concerns for the Capitals: a misfiring batting lineup on a field that might be spin-friendly, and the team has the second-lowest batting average (28.44) against spin this season, trailing only the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The Capitals, who have only won once in their first five games, are at the bottom of the table and have lost their last two games, in contrast to LSG. And after dropping their first three games against LSG, they are still searching for their first victory.
Form guide
LSG LWWW (Most recent matches first)
DC LLWLL
Team news and Impact Player strategy
Super Giants of Lucknow
In their most recent matchup against the Titans, fast bowler Mayank Yadav left the pitch after bowling just one over. As a “precaution,” LSG stated that his workload will be controlled over the next week, and head coach Justin Langer has all but ruled him out of the next two games. Additionally, LSG is still awaiting word on Mohsin’s health. He missed his team’s last two games due to a tight hamstring.
LSG may use right-arm fast Yudhvir Singh or left-arm pacer Arshad Khan against DC if both Mayank and Mohsin are out. Matt Henry and Shamar Joseph are two other international fast-bowling alternatives available to them.
One Quinton de Kock, two KL Rahul (capt, wk), three Devdutt Padikkal are the probable XII. 4 Nicholas Pooran, 5 Marcus Stoinis, Sixth Ayush Badoni, Seventh Krunal Pandya, Eighth Ravi Bishnoi, Ninth Yash Thakur, Tenth Naveen-ul-Haq, Eleventh Arshad Khan, Closing
The Delhi Capitals
The Capitals’ coach, Ricky Ponting, is optimistic that Kuldeep and Mukesh Kumar would be able to play in Lucknow. Marsh, though, remains sidelined due to an injury.
Prithvi Shaw, David Warner, Abishek Porel, Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), Tristan Stubbs, and others are the likely members of the XII. 6 Axar Patel, 7 Khaleel Ahmed, 8 Kumar Kushagra, 9 Anrich Nortje, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Jhye Richardson, 12 Lalit Yadav
In the spotlight – Nicholas Pooran and Tristan Stubbs
This season, Nicholas Pooran has scored the most runs for LSG (178 runs at a strike rate of 169.52) in four innings. With his ability to hit six balls, he has been particularly effective in the death overs, where his strike rate can reach 180. Pooran, who has only been out once this season, is essential to LSG’s hopes of having a successful end to their innings.
This season, Tristan Stubbs has been the best batter for the Capitals. With 174 runs, he leads their team in scoring and has excelled against spin. He will be crucial against LSG’s spinners on the day because his strike rate of 207 against them is the highest of anyone who has faced at least 35 balls.
Stats that matter
Quinton de Kock has a combined record of 193 runs at an average of 64.33 in the IPL versus Ishant Sharma, Anrich Nortje, Axar Patel, and Khaleel Ahmed. On Friday, when the Capitals play LSG, all four are anticipated to get the start. Though Khaleel hasn’t yet fired de Kock, Ishant, Nortje, and Axar have each taken him once.
With an economy rate of 13.43, Nortje leads all bowlers who have bowled at least 90 balls this season. At 10.55 per over, Umesh Yadav, who is ranked second, has given up wickets.
LSG has won nine of its eighteen home games since 2022, ranking third among all teams in terms of win-loss ratio. In contrast, DC has won the fewest number of road games of any team—just six out of 17.
Pitch and conditions
Lucknow is predicted to be hot and muggy, and Langer stated that the team would play the Capitals on a black-soil surface. That would imply the use of yet another sluggish, spin-friendly surface, similar to the one that allowed LSG to defeat Titans with great ease.
Quotes
What I was most proud about the last game was that with Mayank coming out of the team after only one over, we had to find another way to win – and we were able to do that. So it shows we’ve got some depth in our squad
Lucknow Super Giants head coach Justin Langer