Fantasy: Keep spinners at high priority for the Lucknow conditions

The two new teams in their second season, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans, will lock horns for the first time in Match 30 of IPL 2023. It is a battle within the top four. LSG are sitting pretty at the second spot while GT, after two setbacks, have slipped to number four. 

Ground details and team combination

Barring the very first innings at this venue in the ongoing IPL season, where Lucknow hammered 193 against Delhi, Lucknow’s home venue have been a low-scoring ground. The subsequent scores have been 143/9, 121/8, 127/5, 159/8 and 161/8. 

The average run-rate at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium has been 7.8, the lowest for any venue with more than one game in IPL 2023. Historically as well, this is a low-scoring venue. In all T20s since 2022, teams have scored 135 runs on average in the first innings.

Coming back to this IPL season, the spinners have snapped 41.96.2% of the wickets here which is a high proportion. Hence, Lucknow is one of the few venues where spinners should be the main priority. 

Suggested Teams

While you could go for the above team, you can also choose your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Captaincy suggestions

For small leagues: KL Rahul (capt), Rashid Khan (vice-capt)

For grand leagues: Shubman Gill (capt), Krunal Pandya (vice-capt)

Stats that matter

> KL Rahul has been inconsistent this season by the standards he has set. However, he has done well in the last two games in Lucknow, scoring 35 and 74. Given the pitch, there is a good chance Rahul will focus on batting throughout the innings and pile up another good score.

> In five matches this season, Rashid Khan has pouched 10 wickets including a hat-trick. On a pitch expected to assist him, Rashid can be more lethal with the ball. 

> In six matches this season, Deepak Hooda has managed only 39 runs at an average of 6.5 and the strike-rate lingering at 79.6. For Gujarat, Hardik Pandya averages 12.25 with the bat tis season.

> Sai Sudharsan has been a success story for Gujarat this season. He has scored 176 runs at an average of 44. Moreover, his false shot percentage of only 12.6% is the best for a Gujarat batter this season. 

> Kyle Mayers has often been subbed out while fielding, diminishing his bowling and fielding value. However, he has been in great form, scoring 219 runs (average 36.5, strike-rate 154.2)

Grand League Punts

> Krunal Pandya’s bowling has shone in the Lucknow conditions. In the two matches he has bowled here this season, Krunal has picked four wickets at only 7.1 runs per over. His batting form has not been great but if he bats at four again, the left-hander will have a great chance to augment your fantasy fortunes. 

> Ravi Bishnoi has eight wickets this season at an economy of 7. Lucknow has been a happy hunting venue for the young leggie. He has five wickets here in three matches at an economy of 6.2. 

> Avesh Khan hit form in Lucknow’s last match, picking 3/25 with the ball. You can take a punt on him again to make big bucks out of this contest. Similarly, Naveen Ul Haq, who relies heavily on variations, can also prove to be handful on these conditions. 

Probable XIs

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul ( c ), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni, Naveen Ul Haq, Amit Mishra, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi

Gujarat Titans: Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya ( c ), David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Abhinav Manohar, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Jayant Yadav, Mohammed Shami