Overview
As we approach the closing straight of the IPL season, every remaining match has significance in determining the final standings and playoff placements. Among these matches, few may have greater impact than the clash between the Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians. Victory will seal Mumbai’s place in the playoffs, with Lucknow also likely to make it if they get to 15 points. Defeat for either and there will be a nervous wait for other results before they head into their 14th and final matches.
This will also be Lucknow’s last home game this season. There has been no advantage them on home turf, with four losses from six games. Low totals have been a major issue for the team, with an average first-innings score of just 143. Four out of their six scores in Lucknow have been 135 or lower. Consequently, the batting statistics of the Lucknow team have been adversely affected, with an average score of just 169 runs per match. However, the bowlers have made the most of the conditions, conceding an average of just 156 runs per game, the lowest among all teams.
Inconsistency has plagued Lucknow throughout the tournament, as they have managed consecutive victories on only one occasion. Their most recent triumph was an impressive chase against Hyderabad, successfully overhauling a target of 183 with four balls to spare. Nicholas Pooran was the standout performer, smashing 44 runs off just 13 balls to secure the win, while the young Prerak Mankad contributed a solid 64 off 45 balls. Quinton de Kock has regained his place in the Lucknow side, and has made an immediate impact with scores of 70 and 29.
After a couple of seasons of struggle, Mumbai have made a strong comeback this year, albeit with a revamped bowling line-up. Their record of seven wins from 12 matches can be attributed to their formidable batting. Mumbai’s batsmen have propelled the team to an average score of 185, the highest in the tournament, while also hitting the second-most sixes (8.92) per innings. At the top of the order, Ishan Kishan has been a key contributor, scoring 275 of his 366 runs during the powerplay at an impressive average of 68.75 and a strike-rate of almost 9 runs per over. However, Mumbai’s bowlers have struggled, conceding an average of 187 runs per innings, the highest among all teams, despite Piyush Chawla being the third-highest wicket-taker with 19 wickets from 12 appearances.
Mumbai enter this match in great form, having defeated both Bangalore and Gujarat to solidify their position in the top four and strengthen hopes of securing a playoff spot. Their recent victories were largely influenced by Suryakumar Yadav, who is having an outstanding season after a slow start. Yadav’s unbeaten 103 off just 49 balls against table-topping Gujarat took his total to 479 runs in 12 matches, at an incredible strike rate of 190 – the highest among all batters with at least 100 runs.
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Venue and time
Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. 7:30 PM
Expected conditions and toss
The weather is expected to be extremely hot with the temperature hovering around 42C in Lucknow. With the pitch playing low and slow, the team winning the toss could opt to bat first and defend a total.
Head-to-Head
Lucknow will enter this match with confidence, having emerged victorious in both head-to-head encounters against Mumbai in 2022.
Likely Playing XI and Impact Player
Lucknow are likely to use Amit Mishra as their Impact Player, whereas Mumbai Indians could once again go for Vishnu Vinod after his impressive performance in the last game.
Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (WK), Krunal Pandya (C), Prerak Mankad, Ayush Badoni, Swapnil Singh, Yash Thakur, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi.
Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan (WK), Rohit Sharma (C), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Piyush Chawla, Kumar Kartikeya, Chris Jordan, Akash Madhwal.