IPL 2024: Lucknow Super Giants' strongest predicted playing XI against Mumbai Indians, Match 67

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are gearing up for their final league match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 against Mumbai Indians (MI). LSG are still mathematically alive in the playoff race, but their chances of making it are quite impossible. They had a golden opportunity to finish in the top four but squandered it with a 19-run loss to Delhi Capitals (DC). 

Currently, KL Rahul and Co. are in the seventh position in the points table with 12 points. They can reach the playoff qualification benchmark of 14 points with one game remaining. But they have the worst net run rate (-0.787) of the season and are highly unlikely to surpass the other four teams (SRH, CSK, DC, RCB) who could also end with 14 points.   

Meanwhile, MI are the first team to be eliminated and their sole aim will be to avoid the wooden spoon this season. Both teams will be looking to end their campaign on a high and MI have a slight advantage here as the match is going to be played at their stronghold Wankhede Stadium.

Click Here: MI vs LSG Live Score, Match 67

Here's the strongest predicted playing XI of LSG for the 67th match of IPL 2024 against MI:

Openers: KL Rahul (c & wk), Quinton de Kock

While most teams benefit greatly from their openers, LSG have had one of the worst opening pairings of the season. Quinton de Kock has played a handful of good innings and the rest have been unsatisfactory. KL Rahul, on the other hand, has been at the fore in terms of run-scoring as usual, but his impact has been questionable. 

LSG skipper has made 465 runs but at an average of 35.77 and a below-par strike rate of 136.36. Notably, he failed to deliver in the last three games at a critical juncture as his team competes for a spot in the playoffs. Rahul needs to take more responsibility and maintain a high strike rate.

Also Check: Orange Cap in IPL 2024- Most Runs

Middle-order: Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni 

Deepak Hooda has been far from impressive so far this season. Despite getting a lot of chances, he was unable to make an impact on the team. LSG didn't use him much in the bowling department as well. Nicholas Pooran is their main strength in the middle order. 

The Caribbean big-hitter has scored 424 runs at an average of 60.57 and a remarkable strike rate of 168.92. In the last two must-win matches, Pooran's score was 48* off 26 balls and 61 off 27 balls, respectively. Ayush Badoni has scored two half-centuries this season when the team has suffered a collapse in the top-order. But it is safe to say that this time he did not shine as expected.

All-rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya

Marcus Stoinis has had a topsy-turvy IPL 2024 season. The Australian played a few remarkable knocks, including a match-winning hundred against CSK. But failed to maintain consistency, especially in the last three matches he could not deliver with the bat. LSG did not benefit much from his fast-bowling ability as well. 

Krunal Pandya has not lived up to expectations this year. Although the left-arm spinner controlled the runs leakage with an economy of 7.79, his wicket-taking ability was below par (five wickets in 13 matches). There was no significant contribution from him in the batting department either.

Bowlers: Arshad Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur

If you have watched LSG's previous game against DC, you will be compelled to add Arshad Khan to the list of all-rounders. Though he could not take the team home, his fighting spirit helped LSG to narrow down the margin of defeat. When the team was drowning following a collapse, Arshad scored 58 off just 33 balls, including three fours and five sixes. 

He also gave LSG a huge breakthrough with the ball by dismissing the dangerous Jake Fraser-McGurk for a duck in the very first over. It is interesting to note that there are no LSG bowlers in the list of top 15 wicket-takers in IPL 2024. Naveen-ul-Haq and Yash Thakur have been doing their jobs decently but they have not been able to fill the void of the injured Mayank Yadav. 

In the last match against DC, Ravi Bishnoi bowled his quota of four overs exceptionally well. When the team conceded a total of 208 runs, the leg-spinner bowled at an economy rate of just 6.50 and also took a wicket. However, his overall performance in the series was not up to par.

Also Check: Purple Cap in IPL 2024 - Most Wickets

LSG’s Predicted XI against MI:

KL Rahul (c & wk), Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Arshad Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Yash Thakur

Impact Substitute: Yudhvir Singh Charak