IPL 2022: Match 26 – Predicted Lucknow Super Giants Playing XI vs Mumbai Indians

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have done well to get a stable start in IPL 2022 with three wins in five league matches. After losing their opening match against GT, they bounced back with three wins on the trot but faced a defeat by three runs in a failed attempt to chase down the target of 166 in their last outing against Rajasthan Royals (RR).

In their sixth league match, Super Giants will face the struggling Mumbai Indians (MI), who are yet to open their account in the tournament. However, the team would focus on bringing their A-game in this fixture and get back to winning ways. In the last game against RR, Aussie all-rounder Marcus Stoinis made his return to the XI for LSG by replacing Evin Lewis and fulfilled the expectations of the cricket fans. In this fixture, there are no foreseen changes expected from the team management.

Here’s a look at the Lucknow Super Giants predicted XI against MI:

Openers: KL Rahul (c) and Quinton de Kock (wk)

The team surely has talented and experienced openers in the form of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, who are also donning the role of the captain and wicketkeeper respectively. Over the years, they have been successful to provide a strong start to their respective teams in the tournament. In this season as well, both the players have looked in good touch.

Rahul has contributed 132 runs in five innings and has been rather average by his standards. His best score of 68 came against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the team’s third league match. However, he is coming into this game after being dismissed for a golden duck in his last appearance against RR and has scope for improvement.

The team’s leading run-scorer with 188 runs in five league matches, Quinton de Kock has been a guiding force for the team. His best knock of 80 off 52 balls came against Delhi Capitals (DC), which helped the team to chase down the total of 149 easily. In the last league match against RR, he scored 39 off 32 balls to provide a base for the team, with quick wickets falling at the other end.

Middle Order: Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni

Although both batters arrived late at the crease in the last match against RR, they will constitute the middle-order of the team. Over the years, Marcus Stoinis has batted at every position and is a successful player in the T20 format. On the other hand, Ayush Badoni has played well in pressure situations to seal the games for the team.

Stoinis featured in his first match of the season for LSG and did well by scoring 38* off 17 balls, although that came in a losing cause. Surprisingly, he came at number eight and was given the responsibility to strike from the first ball of his innings itself. After this knock, he is expected to get promoted one or two spots up in the order to get more game time and thereby help the team to post a strong total or vice-versa.

Badoni endured his only failure so far in the last outing against RR, where he could only manage to score five off seven balls. In five appearances, he has garnered a total of 107 runs and has provided lusty blows at the end of the innings. The youngster will look to replicate his previous performances in order to be a key contributor to the team’s win.

All-rounders: Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder

One of the key strengths of the LSG team is the presence of experienced all-rounders with proven performances in the T20 format. In this edition, all the three all-rounders, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, and Jason Holder have played their parts to help the team in securing victories. The former West Indies captain Holder has contributed with five wickets and 16 runs in three matches and will look to keep improving as the season progresses.

The backbone of the middle-order, Hooda has piled up a total of 155 runs in five innings and is in sublime form, and has gradually gained confidence after his India stint earlier this year. His best knock of 55 off 41 came in the first league match against GT. Along with the bat, he can roll over his arm to be handy with the ball as well.

The spin bowling all-rounder, Krunal has been a steady customer in the tournament’s history. In this season as well, he has started on a fine note by contributing 68 runs and picking three wickets at an economy of 7.08. In the last game against RR, he contributed 22 off 15 balls.

Bowlers: Krishnappa Gowtham, Dushmantha Chameera, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan

The team boasts a quality bowling line-up with fine experience in white-ball cricket. A handy bowler in the powerplay or the middle overs, Krishnappa Gowtham has finally got his due opportunity in the tournament. In two appearances, he has scalped three wickets at a terrific economy of 6.63. In the last appearance, he finished with figures of 2/30 off four overs.

The Sri Lanka fast bowler, Dushmantha Chameera has been economical in the powerplay overs with his perfect line and lengths and has also done well in the death overs. In three matches, he has picked up two wickets. His pace-bowling partner Avesh Khan is the leading wicket-taker for the team with eight wickets in five matches. In the last game, Avesh gave away 31 runs and picked up a single wicket.

On the other hand, Ravi Bishnoi has bagged four wickets in five matches at an economy of 6.90. Although he has not been able to take enough wickets, he has troubled the batters with his variations. His best figures of 2/22 came against DC.

LSG’s predicted playing XI for MI clash: KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder, Krishnappa Gowtham, Dushmantha Chameera, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan