Lucknow have all the ingredients, but can they cook a good recipe?

IPL 2023 finish: Fourth

New additions: Shivam Mavi, Arshin Kulkarni, Manimaran Siddharth, Ashton Turner, David Willey, Arshad Khan, Shamar Joseph

When it comes to team combination in T20 leagues, there are two ways you can mess up as a franchise. The first one is more common, where you know you are going to struggle to form a balanced XI because the auction didn't go according to the plans. The second one is slightly rare, where you have too many options in your arsenal but fail to use them properly, and Lucknow Super Giants are arguably one of them. 

The Super Giants are only two years old in the Indian Premier League. In their first two seasons, they made it through to the playoffs but lost the Eliminator. That’s not a bad result for a new franchise, but if you look at their squad for the last two editions, you would realise they were capable of achieving a lot more. They struggled to get their combination right throughout the last season but it was the quality in their squad that still led them to the playoffs.

Lucknow went into the 2024 Auction with the lowest purse and had hardly anything to do. They got a couple of certain starters but the core still remains the same. A lot of focus will be on KL Rahul and his batting position. The LSG skipper is returning from an injury, and how he manages all these talents will be one of the things to watch out for. Lucknow have the squad to go all the way but there are a couple of things that could hold them back.

What can win them the trophy?

Middle-order has potential

Rahul moving to the middle-order could solidify LSG’s batting unit. It won’t only help him find a spot in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup but will also improve the department where Lucknow struggled last season. In IPL 2023, the Super Giants had the worst average (24.1) and the second-worst scoring rate (8) in the middle overs (7-15). 

The right-hander has been very successful in the middle-order in ODIs and has all the ingredients to do the same in the 20-over format. Across IPL 2022 and 2023, Rahul averaged 106.33 versus spin (while striking at 123.64). Since 2022, Rahul also has the 10th-best dot percentage in the middle overs. That strike rate is a concern but if he can get it up to 130-135, Lucknow have Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran to take care of the scoring rate.

Amongst batters who scored at least 100 runs in the middle overs in IPL 2023, Pooran had the third-best strike rate (169.2), while operating at an average of 58.67. He was also LSG’s best batter against spin in this time period. Pooran has been in decent form of late but the same can’t be said about Stoinis who is averaging 23.06 in T20s since the last IPL. If he can get his form back and Rahul clicks in his new role, LSG could cause some serious damage. 

All-round spin attack

Lucknow’s biggest strength is their all-rounders, which will possibly allow them to field all kinds of spinners in their XI. Ravi Bishnoi will lead the spin attack and would be eager to do well, considering he is fighting for a spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad with Kuldeep Yadav. Bishnoi, who scalped 16 wickets in the last season, has been in good form for India in T20Is. He is someone who can bowl across all three phases.

Then there is Krunal Pandya, who is not a wicket-taker but has an impressive economy rate. Amongst tweakers with at least 80 overs across the last two seasons, the left-arm spinner has the second-best economy (7.2). For match-ups, Lucknow also have offspinner K Gowtham who has an economy of 5.2 against left-handers since 2022. If he is not playing, Ayush Badoni and Deepak Hooda can also chip in.

What could cost them the title?

Not much quality in pace attack

For Lucknow to do well, Mohsin Khan can’t afford to have a bad season. The left-arm seamer struggled with his fitness in 2023 but is coming into this tournament having featured in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In five games, Mohsin claimed 11 wickets at an economy of 5.84. Apart from him, the Super Giants don’t have a reliable seamer.

They got David Willey in the auction but the left-arm pacer is not someone you can trust in the death overs. Meanwhile, Naveen-ul-Haq will work only on slow surfaces. Shamar Joseph hasn’t done much in this format, while Shivam Mavi and Yash Thakur often end up leaking too many runs. Mayank Yadav is an exciting prospect but is still unproven at this level.  

Things to watch out for

- Rahul’s batting position

- Mayers or de Kock?

- Bishnoi’s season with T20 World Cup around the corner

- Mohsin’s form and fitness

Probable 12

Quinton de Kock*, Devdutt Padikkal, Marcus Stoinis*, Nicholas Pooran*, KL Rahul (c & wk), Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham, David Willey/Naveen-ul-Haq*, Shivam Mavi, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan (impact player)

LSG have an option of playing Kyle Mayers over Quinton de Kock. The left-hander from West Indies can also give them a couple of overs in the powerplay. Depending on conditions, Lucknow can pick Yash Thakur or Mayank Yadav ahead of Gowtham.  

Uncapped X-Factor

Mayank Yadav

The 21-year-old fast bowler from Delhi missed the last season because of an injury but could get some game time in this year’s IPL. The right-arm pacer can constantly touch 140 kmph and has 12 wickets in 10 T20s at an average of 15.58 and an economy of 6.44. He was also impressive in the last Deodhar Trophy, picking up 12 wickets @ 17.58 and finishing as the joint second-highest wicket-taker. LSG don’t have too many quality Indian seamers and that could bring Mayank into play.

Schedule till April 7

March 24: Rajasthan Royals vs Lucknow Super Giants (Away)

March 30: Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings (Home)

April 2: Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Lucknow Super Giants (Away)

April 7: Lucknow Super Giants vs Gujarat Titans (Home)