Shikhar Dhawan | Source: BCCI/IPL
The 11th match of the Indian Premier League 2024 will be played against The Lucknow Super Giants and Punjab Kings. LSG vs PBKS will be played at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on March 30. The match starts at 7.30 pm IST and this will mark the start of home games in Lucknow this season.
KL Rahul will lead Lucknow Super Giants, currently placed last in the points table while Punjab Kings who are placed 5th in the points table with one win will be led by Shikhar Dhawan.
Considering the home side has been undefeated in this IPL, LSG would be looking to continue the trend and secure a win in front of their home crowd. It would be an interesting battle as Rahul is a former Kings Captain and never leaves to score runs against his former Team.
Ekana Stadium Analysis
Last year LSG won three out of their seven home games as the pitches here offer more turns than normal for T20 games. The Batsmen around the globe find it most difficult to smash runs at this surface and the same is expected this year.
Meanwhile, the revamp for the WC may have been successful in improving it slightly but the basic nature of the pitch will remain the same.
PBKS vs LSG: Top Three Players You Can Pick As Captain:
KL Rahul
KL Rahul | Source: X.com
KL Rahul is coming back from an injury in the IPL but looked in great touch in the last game. He scored a gritty half-century but was unable to take his team home.
He would like to win it for Lucknow this time, leaving an impact with a higher intent and strike rate making him a good choice for captain.
Shikhar Dhawan
Traditionally Shikhar is a good player of spin with sweep and drives in his armoury making him a player suitable for this pitch.
He was criticised for his intent in the last game that Punjab lost against RCB. Dhawan would be hoping to change his fortunes and try scoring runs in a fashion team demands. He is a decent captaincy choice.
Ravi Bishnoi
India‘s spinner Ravi Bishnoi has a great track record at Ekana making it impossible for the batters to hit runs. He is economical and also offers wicket-taking skills at this stadium. He has taken nine wickets in six innings at an average of 17.88 at this stadium. He is a punt choice but can reap great rewards as captain.
PBKS vs LSG: Top Three Players You Can Pick As Vice-Captain
Marcus Stoinis
The versatile all-rounder from Australia is a great hitter of the ball but also gives four overs. Stoinis’s speciality is bowling tight overs in the middle where batsmen lose their touch eyeing to hit him for runs. He has a great record at Ekana making him a perfect choice for vice-captain.
Sam Curran
Sam Curran was the man of the match behind PBKS’s win against DC in their first match. He failed to make an impact both with bat and bowl in the second game resulting in a loss for Punjab. Curran Plays a Major Role for PBKS as the team is built around his all-round abilities. Curran is a trusted player on slow surfaces with his cutters making him a good choice for vice-captain.
Harpreet Brar
Harpreet Brar had an imperious performance against RCB on a Chinnaswamy ground meant as a graveyard for spinners He took 2 wickets giving a meagre 13 runs and pulling back the momentum in favour of PBKS. On a tough pitch for batters, Brar can prove handy making him an ideal choice for vice-captain.
LSG vs PBKS Differential Picks
PrabhSimran Singh ( PBKS)
Devdutt Padikkal ( LSG)
Harshal Patel (PBKS)
Naveen-ul-Haq (LSG)
