Lucknow: Lucknow Super Giants will take on Chennai Super Kings at their home ground on Friday. Last season, the match played between the two teams on this ground was washed out due to rain. Whereas Chennai had defeated Lucknow by 12 runs on its home ground.
Right now Chennai is riding on the chariot of victory while the Nawab of Lucknow is also desperate to get back on the winning track. Let us turn to some statistics related to this match whose impact we can see on Friday evening.
Rahul likes Chennai
Lucknow captain KL Rahul has not been able to get back into his rhythm yet, while many questions are being raised regarding his strike rate. However, his figures against Chennai are such that Friday evening could be in Rahul’s name.
Rahul has so far scored 455 runs against Chennai in 12 innings of 13 matches at an average of 41.36 and a strike rate of 140.86, which includes four half-centuries. Rahul’s best score against Chennai is also 98 not out.
Shardul can trouble Lucknow’s opening pair
Apart from Rahul, his partner Quinton de Kock has also scored 335 runs with two half-centuries against Chennai. However, Shardul Thakur can give a tough challenge to both of them.
Shardul has shown both of them the way to the pavilion twice so far in the IPL, while Deepak Hooda has also been made his victim twice. However, against Shardul, Rahul has also scored runs at a strike rate of 187.5.
Krunal can become the shield of Lucknow
Chennai’s batting line up is very strong. They have fast batsmen from the opening to lower middle order. In such a situation, Krunal Pandya can do wonders with his ball. So far in the IPL, he has made Ajinkya Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja his victims twice, whereas Rahane has scored runs against him at a strike rate of 111.6 and Jadeja only at a strike rate of 100. Jadeja has faced only 15 balls from Krunal so far but he has been forced to leave the pavilion twice.
Who will become Gaikwad’s cut?
Chennai captain Ruturaj Gaikwad had shown signs of coming into form by scoring a half-century in the last match. He has not faced the Lucknow bowlers that much in the IPL, but in whatever period he has faced them, except one bowler, no other bowler has been able to show him the way to the pavilion.
Ravi Bishnoi has made Gaikwad his victim once but Gaikwad has also scored runs against him at a strike rate of 154.5. Gaikwad has also scored runs against Krunal at a strike rate of 183.3.
