FANTASY PREVIEW
Follow UsTwo teams of contrasting fortunes will lock horns in the 21st match of the IPL 2023. After losing to Chennai Super Kings, Lucknow Super Giants have bounced back strong by winning two games on the trot. On the other hand, Punjab Kings have wasted a great start. They won their first two matches comprehensively and lost their other two.
The two teams have met only once in the IPL, and Lucknow emerged victorious. Lucknow had set a target of 154, and Punjab failed to achieve it as they fell short by 20 runs.
Ground details
The two matches played at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium have seen contrasting fortunes. In the first match, batters had a say, as Lucknow posted 193 in the first innings. However, the second match showed the actual color. Sunrisers Hyderabad posted a total of 121 in the first innings.
So far in this IPL, batting teams have scored at 7.7 in the two matches, the lowest among all. Historically, this has been a slow-scoring venue. In all T20s since 2022, teams have scored 133 runs on average in the first innings. Overall, the batting teams have scored 6.8 runs per over.
Returning to this IPL, the pacers bagged 73.3 percent of wickets in the first match. However, spinners had the wood over the pacers in the second game (66.7%). Overall, the quicks have bagged 55.6 percent of wickets in the two games compared to 44.4 by spin. Regarding the economy, the spinners (6.9) are way better than the pacers (8.2).
Suggested team
While you could go for the above team, you can 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.
Suggested captains
For small league: Krunal Pandya (capt), Shikhar Dhawan (vice-capt)
For grand league: Nicholas Pooran (capt), Ravi Bishnoi (vice-capt)
Stats that matter
-In this IPL, Arshdeep Singh has picked up five wickets in the first six overs, the joint-most for a bowler alongside Mohammed Shami.
-Shikhar Dhawan might have failed in his previous game against Gujarat Titans, but the batter is still the Orange Cap doner. Before his match against Gujarat, he scored at least 40 in each of his three innings.
-In this IPL, among the top seven batters of Lucknow, the overseas players have scored 388 runs. They have scored those runs at a strike rate of 183 and hit a boundary every 3.6 balls. In comparison, the Indians have scored 245 runs at a strike rate of 111.9 and hit a boundary every 9.1 balls.
-In the first two matches, Punjab scored 176 runs at a run rate of 9.8 while losing only four wickets in the middle overs (7-15). In comparison, they scored only 94 runs and lost eight wickets. Their average, which was 44 in the first two matches, has dropped significantly to 11.8 in the last two. The run rate has come down to 5.2 from 9.8.
Grand league punts
-In this IPL, among batters who have faced 30+ balls in this edition, no batter has hit a six as frequently as Pooran. His 59.6 percent of runs in this IPL have come through sixes (84 off 141).
Overall, Pooran has scored at a strike rate of 220.3. From the above criteria, only Shardul Thakur has a better strike rate (230.3). In sixes count, it is a tie with Ruturaj Gaikwad (14).
-In this IPL, Ravi Bishnoi has good record bowling in Lucknow. In two matches, the leggie has bagged three wickets by conceding only 5.9 runs per over. He has bagged a wicket every 16 balls.
Top Criclytics projection
Probable XI
Lucknow Super Giants: Kyle Mayers/Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c), Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Ayush Badoni, Jaydev Unadkat, Mark Wood/Romario Shepherd, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan
Punjab Kings: Prabsimran Singh, Shikhar Dhawan (c), Matthew Short, Liam Livingstone/Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran, M Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Kagiso Rabada/Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh
