Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have chosen to bowl after winning the toss against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on a mixed-soil pitch at Lucknow. The decision was made by RCB’s stand-in captain, Jitesh Sharma. As RCB prepare to bat later, they will bring in Rajat Patidar as their Impact Player.
With Tim David currently sidelined due to injury, RCB have brought in Liam Livingstone to strengthen their side. Another notable change is the absence of Josh Hazlewood, who has joined the team but remains unavailable for this match. Jitesh Sharma hinted at the potential return of both Hazlewood and David for the upcoming playoffs. Additionally, Nuwan Thushara has replaced Lungi Ngidi, who has returned to South Africa.
LSG, for their part, will be without Aiden Markram. Matthew Breetzke steps in to fill the gap, while Digvesh Rathi returns to the squad after completing a one-match suspension. Akash Deep makes way for Rathi’s reinstatement.
Matthew Hayden, assessing the pitch, remarked that although it has a good grass covering, it might be somewhat sticky, suggesting that bowlers using cutters could find success. A high-scoring encounter is not anticipated given these conditions. The pitch’s boundaries are reasonably balanced, with square boundaries measuring 64 and 66 metres, and the straight boundary at 74 metres.
The playing elevens are as follows:
Lucknow Super Giants:
1. Matthew Breetzke
2. Mitchell Marsh
3. Nicholas Pooran
4. Rishabh Pant (captain & wicketkeeper)
5. Ayush Badoni
6. Abdul Samad
7. Himmat Singh
8. Shahbaz Ahmed
9. Digvesh Rathi
10. Avesh Khan
11. Will O’Rourke
Impact Player options: Akash Singh, Prince Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Arshin Kulkarni
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
1. Phil Salt
2. Virat Kohli
3. Mayank Agarwal
4. Liam Livingstone
5. Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper)
6. Romario Shepherd
7. Krunal Pandya
8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar
9. Yash Dayal
10. Nuwan Thushara
11. Suyash Sharma
Impact Player options: Rajat Patidar, Rasikh Dar, Manoj Bhandage, Tim Seifert, Swapnil Singh
This match promises intriguing tactical decisions on both sides, with both teams seeking to refine their combinations and strategies as they near the critical playoff stage in the Indian Premier League.
