PBKS vs LSG: Both reload guns towards playoff plans

PBKS vs LSG: The big picture

PBKS vs LSG: KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, the stars of the IPL’s most successful partnership in the last two editions combined, will square off for the first time this season, with both teams looking for consistency as the battle for the play-offs, heats up. This year’s captains have been on opposite sides of the run chats, but they will both agree that the only standings that matter toward the business end of the tournament are on the points table.

Punjab has eight points in as many games after blowing hot and cold in the opening half of IPL 2022, but they finally appeared to have achieved greater team balance with their second win of the season over the four-time champions Chennai Super Kings. Similarly, the Lucknow Super Giants are coming off a pair of victories over the Mumbai Indians, both of which were aided by KL Rahul’s hundreds in each match. The Kings are fully aware of Rahul’s ability to practically single-handedly handle the batting load. After all, he was the most successful run-getter for Punjab in the IPL to date, with a total of 2548 runs and four consecutive seasons of 500+ runs before his departure to LSG.

LSG presently has a one-win advantage over PBKS and are in the fourth place, although there have been some unsettling changes in performance since a hat-trick of victories at the start. Rahul may have been reminded of his Punjab days far too much at the batting crease for his comfort. Rahul, LSG’s batting stalwart, is second (368) only to Jos Buttler’s amazing 499-run haul, but he’ll need more help from his batsmen. On paper, the all-rounders’ lineup includes Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, and Jason Holder, giving the team an enviable depth. But how will they fair against an experienced Kagiso Rabada and a stingy Arshdeep Singh in the death overs.

PBKS vs LSG: Match details

When: Friday, April 29th, 7:30 p.m. (IST).

Where: The Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, Maharashtra.

What to expect: Teams batting first have won four of the seven games at the MCA Stadium, with the Rajasthan Royals even defending the lowest total of the season, 144. The dew hasn’t helped the chasing teams much, but the batsmen and spinners have been treated well as the game has progressed. Except for the RR game, all of the other totals have been over 150.

Also Read: IPL 2022: RR vs MI Match 44 Prediction

PBKS vs LSG: Team-wise tactics and strategies

Punjab Kings

LSG’s most obvious vulnerability is their top-order, with opener Quinton de Kock’s form fading after two fifties in the first three games and only 87 runs coming off the bat of the three possibilities they’ve attempted at No. 3 in the eight innings thus far. Manish Pandey, who is struggling for runs, averages only 7 against Rabada and has been dismissed twice by the South African in all T20s.

Probable XI: Rishi Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada, Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (C), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Liam Livingstone, Jonny Bairstow, Jitesh Sharma (Wk), Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Sandeep Sharma

Lucknow Super Giants

Marcus Stoinis has been used sparingly by LSG in IPL, but his stellar record against Mayank – two dismissals in three games – may tempt Rahul to give him a shot at his captaincy successor at PBKS, who has had a mediocre season so far. Ravi Bishnoi’s waning form – two wickets in the last four games at 9+ RPO compared to four in the first four games at under 7 – could make him an easy target for his former side in the middle overs.

Probable XI: Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Quinton de Kock (Wk), KL Rahul (C), Manish Pandey, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Jason Holder, Avesh Khan/Mohsin Khan, Dushmantha Chameera, Ravi Bishnoi