‘KGF will not like black-soil pitch’ – Aakash Chopra's advice for LSG to dismantle RCB’s top-order in Lucknow

Cricketer-turned-broadcaster Aakash Chopra opined that Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) must prepare a ‘black-soil’ pitch in order to dismantle Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) top-order ahead of the clash. Notably, KL Rahul-led LSG will square off against RCB at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Monday, May 1.

While previewing the high-octane clash, Aakash stated that the home team will need to opt for the ‘black-soil’ pitch instead of the ‘red-soil’ in Lucknow to dismiss the trio of Faf du Plessis, Virat Kohli, and Glenn Maxwell. He further made a blunt assessment of the batting line-up as he stated that the rest of the RCB unit does not have depth apart from the top order. 

For the unversed, black-soil pitches have a reputation to provide better bounce and are more elastic and durable in nature. On the other hand, the red-soil pitches often dry up faster, which assists spinners or slow bowlers.

"Black or red soil will decide how the match goes. I feel Lucknow should give a black-soil pitch because KGF (Kohli, Glenn, and Faf) will not like that pitch and the rest of the batting does not have depth, which we have discussed so many times,” Aakash said on his YouTube channel.

RCB don't have one but problems galore: Aakash Chopra

"We are ourselves feeling that it is a broken record because no one is scoring runs - Mahipal Lomror has scored a few runs, Rajat Patidar is not there and Shahbaz Ahmed was sent up the order but he was of no use. So, they don't have one but problems galore,” he added.

Notably, RCB have been heavily reliant on their top order to do the bulk of the scoring in the ongoing season. While Faf du Plessis has got 422 runs thus far and is in contention for the IPL Orange Cap, Kohli, and Maxwell have amassed 333 and 258 runs, respectively. On the other hand, the rest of the unit has failed to hit the ground running.

Speaking about the forthcoming clash, RCB will be gunning to get back to winning ways after losing to KKR in their last outing. Moreover, the side will seek redemption as they were handed a defeat against LSG in the first meeting earlier this season.