Achi news desk-
Lucknow3 days ago
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Lucknow Supergiants, who reached the playoffs in the first two seasons, will play their first match in the Indian Premier League against Rajasthan Royals on March 24 in Jaipur. The team has to play four games in the first two weeks.
Captain KL Rahul has become fit and joined the team’s training camp a day ago. He was rehabilitating at NCA (National Cricket Academy). Fast bowler Mark Wood has withdrawn from the Indian League due to workload management. In his place, young West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph has joined the team.
The arrival of Mavi brought depth to the batting; Fast bowling weakened due to Wood’s departure
In the last auction, the Lucknow franchise has bought 6 players. These include two overseas and three uncapped. Lucknow’s batting has become stronger this season. The team already has names like KL Rahul, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stonis, Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran. Now David Willey, Ashton Turner, Arshad Khan, Arshin Kulkarni and Shivam Mavi have also joined.
In bowling, Wood’s substitutes are players like Shamar Joseph, Amit Mishra and Ravi Bishnoi.
Possible play-11
Lucknow Supergiants (LSG): KL Rahul (Captain), Quinton de Kock, Devdutt Padikkal, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stonis, Shivam Mavi, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph, Mohsin Khan.
Impact Player: Ayush Badoni.
Strength
- Lots of options in the upper-middle order Lucknow’s top and middle order batting is excellent. It has names like Devdutt Padikkal, Kyle Mayers and KL Rahul. Stoinis had scored more than 400 runs last season.
- Depth in batting, batting till number-8 After the last auction, there has been depth in the team’s batting. Captain Rahul will play in the middle order. After the arrival of Mavi, the team’s batting has now strengthened to number 8. Overall options have also increased.
- finish stronger than before Lucknow’s finish is stronger than before in the form of Puran-Stoinis. Both are experts at playing big shots.
Weakness
- Captain KL Rahul’s fitness Lucknow captain Rahul was injured in the middle of the tournament last season. He is returning from injury. In such a situation, his form and fitness are a matter of concern.
- Wood removed, no backup for Joseph Fast bowler Mark Wood has withdrawn from the Indian League due to workload management. In such a situation, fast bowling will be affected, although the franchise has included a young West Indian pacer, Shamar Joseph, but he has no experience of bowling in this T20 league and Indian pitches. Indian pacers are also new.
- Unable to cross the gate to play off the field The team has been entering the playoffs for the past two seasons, but is unable to cross the playoff barrier. Such players will be under pressure to progress beyond the play-offs.
