The Lucknow Super Giants will look to keep their slim IPL playoff chances alive when they face an equally desperate Delhi Capitals in a must-win game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in the national capital.
LSG, currently placed seventh with 12 points, are looking to overcome recent setbacks and capitalize on the five-day break to refine their strategy. The spotlight is particularly intense on LSG captain KL Rahul, who has faced criticism for his recent performances, including a 33-ball 29 in their last match, which did not prevent Sunrisers Hyderabad from chasing down a target of 166 runs within 10 overs. Rahul's form this season has not only impacted his team’s standings but also played a part in his omission from India's squad for the T20 World Cup.
LSG's struggles have been compounded by Quinton de Kock's lack of form at the top of the order, which has increased pressure on middle-order hitters like Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran. Despite a rescue effort from Pooran and Ayush Badoni in their last game, LSG’s bowling lineup was unable to contain the SRH batters, highlighting significant gaps left by the injured pace duo of Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan. Additionally, the spinners, Krunal Pandya and Ravi Bishnoi, are under scrutiny after their recent underwhelming performances.
On the other side, Delhi Capitals are eager to bounce back from a recent defeat to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). The return of skipper Rishabh Pant from a one-match suspension is expected to provide a much-needed boost to the team. DC’s fielding errors were a major downfall in their last outing against RCB, where dropped catches and misfields proved costly. Moreover, their bowlers failed to capitalize on a favourable start, and the batting lineup collapsed, registering their lowest score of the season. The loss meant they are virtually out of the playoffs race and only a miracle can seem them through but even for that, they have to win this contest by a massive margin.
Despite these challenges, Delhi Capitals have shown their potential earlier in the season, recording four totals over 200. Key players such as Jack Fraser-McGurk, Abhishek Porel, Rishabh Pant, and Tristan Stubbs have been consistent with the bat, contributing significantly to the team’s past successes. In the bowling department, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel have been effective, sharing 25 wickets between them, while pacers Khaleel Ahmed and Mukesh Kumar have also made substantial contributions.
The Delhi Capitals may not qualify for the playoffs themselves but they can surely spoil even LSG's chances on Tuesday.
Team News
Captain Rishabh Pant, who was badly missed in the contest against RCB, will return to lead the Delhi Capitals after his 1-match suspension.
For LSG, Kyle Mayers, who is yet to play this season, may finally get his break in place of the out-of-form Quinton de Kock. The visitors could also make a host of changes to their bowling department.
Head-to-head record
The two teams have faced each other 4 times, with LSG dominating the count with 3 wins to Delhi's solitary win, which actually came earlier this season.
Weather report
A hot evening awaits the players with temperatures expected to be in the 34-38°C range during the contest. There's no chance of rain.
Probable XIs
DC Probable XI: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant (wk/c), Tristan Stubbs, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Rasikh Dar Salam, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed
LSG Probable XI: Kyle Mayers, KL Rahul (wk/c), Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Yash Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Matt Henry
Full squads
Delhi Capitals: Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, Shai Hope, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Tristan Stubbs, Gulbadin Naib, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Rasikh Dar Salam, Kumar Kushagra, Praveen Dubey, Sumit Kumar, Lalit Yadav, Prithvi Shaw, Lizaad Williams, David Warner, Ricky Bhui, Jhye Richardson, Anrich Nortje, Yash Dhull, Vicky Ostwal, Swastik Chikara
Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (wk/c), Arshin Kulkarni, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Ashton Turner, Krunal Pandya, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur, Mohsin Khan, Manimaran Siddharth, Krishnappa Gowtham, Devdutt Padikkal, Amit Mishra, Kyle Mayers, Quinton de Kock, Matt Henry, Prerak Mankad, Arshad Khan, Shamar Joseph
(With PTI inputs)