IPL 2022: Match 42 - Predicted Punjab Kings Playing XI vs Lucknow Super Giants

The Punjab Kings would be locking horns with a resurgent Lucknow Super Giants in Match 42 of IPL 2022 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on April 29. They would be pumped up heading into this clash after an impressive 11-run win over the defending champions Chennai Super Kings earlier this week.

PBKS would be satisfied with the fact that their top-order is performing well, especially senior batter Shikhar Dhawan who has started contributing, the bowlers seemed to have clicked well as a unit, especially at the death where the pace trio of Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh and Rishi Dhawan have performed exceedingly well. After their win over CSK, Punjab would be looking forward to sticking to the same winning combination.

Here’s the predicted Playing XI of the Punjab Kings for Match 42 of IPL 2022:

Openers: Shikhar Dhawan and Mayak Agarwal (c)

Shikhar Dhawan roared back to form in their last game with an outstanding knock of 88* runs from 59 deliveries at a strike rate of nearly 150. His match-winning knock also earned him the “Player of the Match” award and apart from that, Dhawan also became only the second batter after Virat Kohli to register 6,000 IPL runs. He would be hoping to continue the momentum going forward.

Skipper Mayank Agarwal has been inconsistent on the 22 yards so far managing just 136 runs from his seven outings averaging 19.43 and a strike rate of 125.92. PBKS would want him to regain his form ahead of their upcoming clashes.

Middle-Order: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Jitesh Sharma

The middle-order consists of three wicketkeeper-batters and they would be expected to take care of the situation should Punjab lose their top-order early on against LSG. Jonny Bairstow has not been up to the mark this season with just 47 runs to his name from five matches with his highest score being 12 runs. The England limited-overs specialist would be eager to showcase a stellar performance against the Lucknow bowling attack.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who was included in the last match against CSK lived up to the expectations by scoring 42 runs off 32 deliveries and was also involved in a 110-run stand for the second wicket along with opener Shikhar Dhawan which eventually propelled them to a match-winning total of 187/4.

Emerging stumper Jitesh Sharma has been impressive so far and has scored 122 runs with his highest score being 32.

All-Rounders: Liam Livingstone and Rishi Dhawan

Liam Livingstone, who has been one of Punjab’s most expensive recruits this season has blown hot and cold so far. The Englishman scored a seven-ball 19 in the last game but went wicketless with the ball in hand conceding 12 runs off his very first over after which he was not given the ball again. PBKS will hope that Livingstone would make a difference with his all-round abilities in the next clash.

Rishi Dhawan was hammered by Ambati Rayudu in his first spell, but the promising all-rounder held his nerves and staged a brilliant comeback in his second spell. His figures of 2/39 including the key wicket of MS Dhoni, were instrumental in applying the brakes of Chennai’s run chase. The Himachal Pradesh cricketer might not have impressed much with the bat but he has some big-hitting abilities that can benefit PBKS lower down the order.

Bowlers: Sandeep Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, and Arshdeep Singh

Sandeep Sharma was the most expensive bowler for Punjab Kings against the Chennai Super Kings. While he did account for Robin Uthappa early but ended up conceding 40 runs from his four overs at an economy rate of 10. On the other hand, Kagiso Rabada was the standout performer with the ball in hand. Not only did he keep things tight in the death overs but also finished with figures of 2/23.

Rahul Chahar had a day to forget against Chennai as he failed to register a single scalp and also conceded 30 runs from his three overs. The promising leggie would be hoping to make an impact in the wickets column against the Lucknow Super Giants. Arshdeep Singh kept things tight in the death overs, especially against a rampaging Mahendra Singh Dhoni who could only manage one boundary against him in the penultimate over. Arshdeep would be hoping to repeat the same in the next game and also deceive the batters with his ability of bowling yorkers at will.

Here’s the Predicted Playing XI of PBKS

Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Liam Livingstone, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma, Rishi Dhawan, Sandeep Sharma, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh.