• Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Rajasthan Royals, 44th Match, Indian Premier League 2024
• Date and Time: April 27,  02:00 pm GMT / 08:00 pm BD / 07:30 pm local time
• Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are riding a wave of confidence following consecutive victories against Chennai Super Kings, showcasing a peak performance when it matters most. Key players like KL Rahul, Marcus Stoinis, and Nicholas Pooran have hit their stride, bolstering the team’s form. With five wins in eight games, LSG is steadily advancing towards securing a playoff berth, needing just three more victories in their remaining six matches. The recent triumphs over CSK have solidified their position as strong contenders for the playoffs.

However, LSG faces a formidable challenge in their upcoming clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR). RR is currently in exceptional form, boasting an impressive record of seven wins in eight games. A victory over LSG would cement their place in the playoffs. The spin-friendly conditions in Lucknow may not deter RR, given the proficiency of their spin-bowling duo, Chahal and Ashwin. Moreover, RR’s batting lineup, led by the in-form trio of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Riyan Parag, further strengthens their prowess, making them a formidable adversary for LSG.

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c & wk), Quinton de Kock, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan/Mayank Yadav, Matt Henry, Yash Thakur, Deepak Hooda.

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c & wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Sen, Avesh Khan.

Who will win the toss? – Lucknow Super Giants
Who will win the match? – Chennai Super Kings

Captain: KL Rahul
Vice-Captain: Sanju Samson

Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Krunal Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan.

The toss will be crucial in the upcoming match due to the potential presence of dew during the second innings, which could make chasing a target easier. Consequently, we expect captains to win the toss and elect to bowl first to gain an advantage from the conditions.

The pitch at the Ekana Stadium is usually slow and damp, posing difficulties for batsmen, especially against spinners. However, in the last game against CSK, there was a noticeable presence of grass on the pitch, reducing the assistance for spinners. This adjustment might have been a strategic response to the opposition’s strengths. We anticipate Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to prepare a similar slow pitch for the upcoming match. A score in the range of 180-190 runs is typically regarded as par on this pitch.

The temperature is forecasted to fluctuate between 41 and 25 degrees Celsius. Humidity levels are expected to be around 21 percent, accompanied by a wind speed of approximately 21 km/h.

• Stadium: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium
• City: Lucknow
• Capacity: 50, 000
• Hosts to: Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow Super Giants