LSG vs CSK Preview – Lucknow look to break their losing streak at home
The Lucknow Super Giants will host the Chennai Super Kings in the 45th match of the Indian Premier League 2023 at the Ekana Stadium on May 3. Both teams are coming off defeats from their previous games, and one of them will be able to get back to winning ways. While LSG lost their previous contest against the RCB, CSK lost their previous game against PBKS.
This will be the second time that CSK and LSG cross swords this season. The two sides last met when CSK hosted LSG at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, and the hosts won the contest by a margin of 12 runs. After posting a target of 213 runs against LSG, CSK bowlers managed to defend their total and thereby hand CSK their first victory at home in IPL 2023.
After winning three games on the trot, CSK lost two games straight, which brought them to the fourth position in the points table. The playoff race has gotten intense with several teams being tied with 10 points. Both LSG and CSK are in the top four currently and will look to make their way to the top with a win in the upcoming clash.
Pitch and conditions
The pitch at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow is a tricky surface to bat on. The bowlers get assistance on the turf, making it difficult for the hitters to do their job well. The previous game saw both teams struggle to get to a decent score and hence, a high-scoring game won’t be a possibility.
Venue details: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Last T20 match at the venue: RCB – 126/9 (20 overs) | LSG – 108 (19.5 overs)
Here’s the probable playing XI for Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings clash:
Lucknow Super Giants
The Lucknow Super Giants have faced back-to-back defeats on their home ground and both the games were low-scoring. They failed to chase the 136-run target against Gujarat at home, and then the 127-run target set by RCB. KL Rahul’s inclusion is still a doubt as he suffered an injury in the previous game.
Chennai Super Kings
Chennai skipper MS Dhoni has not made any changes to the playing combination in the past few games. Depending upon the pitch conditions, the team might bring in Mitchell Santner to get the extra batting and bowling option.
