The State of Play
Having suffered a 20-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals in their IPL 2024 opener, Lucknow Super Kings will be seeking their first victory of the season when they play their first home game against Punjab Kings on Saturday.
KL Rahul could become the first player to score 1,000 for LSK in the IPL when the Kings visit, and the captain’s 58 off 44 as part of a recovery from a dire 11/3 will have given LSK encouragement.
So too will Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten 64 off 41 and the presence of the likes of Quinton de Kock and Devdutt Padikkal, although PBKS have cause for confidence through their ability to call upon game-changers such as Jonny Bairstow and all-rounder Sam Curran, who starred in their opening victory over Delhi Capitals.
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Kings suffered a four-wicket defeat at home to Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday but posted a respectable 176 with the help of 45 from Shikhar Dhawan, although they suffered at the hands of Dinesh Karthik and Virat Kohli on their way to a first defeat of the campaign.
Super Giants have won two of the three IPL meetings between the teams, most recently hitting 257 on their way to a 56-run victory in 2023.
Each of the first nine games of the season went the way of the hosts, so LSG will be aiming to continue that trend and get off the mark and the bottom of the IPL.
For their opponents, Harpreet Brar will be hoping he can repeat a spell of two wickets for 13 runs which wobbled RCB.
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Expected line-ups
Lucknow Super Giants: De Kock (wk), Rahul (c), Padikkal, Badoni, Hooda, Pooran, Stoinis, Pandya, Bishnoi, Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq
Punjab Kings: Dhawan (c), Bairstow, Singh, Livingstone, Curran, Sharma (wk), Singh, Brar, Patel, Rabada, Chahar
How to watch
Sky have the rights to show the IPL to UK viewers in 2024 and will broadcast every game live. Saturday’s match will be shown on Sky Sports Cricket from 1.50pm GMT. Coverage on Sky Sports Main Event starts at 2pm.
In India, the games can be streamed on the Jio Cinema app and website. They are also available across the Star Sports Network.
Ekana, we’re ready for you 💙💪 pic.twitter.com/ekIFXQ9Y2x
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 29, 2024
Prediction
Lucknow have suggested with some justification that their defeat to RR is more respectable than it may look on paper, and they ought to be the favourites on a pitch which is likely to be low-scoring – particularly if Pooran can find his groove.
Bairstow, Curran and the likes of England’s Liam Livingstone mean Punjab are not to be discounted but the visitors are yet to convince.
Back new LSK head coach Justin Langer to earn his first IPL win here.
