It’s that time of the season when teams are either locked in a heated battle for the playoffs or already reflecting on what went wrong. Lucknow Super Giants find themselves caught in both scenarios. A loss against Sunrisers Hyderabad today will officially knock them out of the playoffs race, while a win will only delay the inevitable post-mortem of what went awry this season.
The biggest headache for them has definitely been the nightmare season for their captain with the bat. Rishabh Pant has come under consistent fire for not being able to contribute to LSG’s cause. The captain’s confidence has been so low that he opted to demote himself down the order, down to the number seven position. For information, Avesh Khan (21) averages higher than Pant (12.8) this season
What has hurt them even more significantly is the spate of injuries to their core Indian pace attack. Right from the initial phase, all four of their key fast bowlers — Mohsin Khan, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep — were sidelined due to injuries. As a result, Shardul Thakur (Mohsin’s replacement) was left to lead the attack, supported by Prince Yadav and the spin contingent. Their overseas pace spearhead, Shamar Joseph, has not featured at all during the tournament owing to a shin injury. He has now officially withdrawn, as the West Indies Cricket Board has called him up for the upcoming series against Ireland, England, and Australia.
Avesh, Mayank, and Akash all recovered to make their way back into the team. However, barring Avesh, the others have continued to struggle to make an impact. Mayank, who was seen as their X-factor, has broken down once again with a back injury after just two matches. He has now been replaced by New Zealand fast bowler William O’Rourke. Akash has averaged 49 across four games, while Shardul appears to have faded away after a good start.
Moreover, LSG have recorded the worst economy rate in the powerplay this season, conceding runs at 10.5 per over. With their batters also struggling to sustain form throughout the campaign, LSG’s season remains precariously poised.
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