Yesterday’s double-header delivered pure fireworks for PBKS and CSK fans.
PBKS conceded 219 in the first innings but turned the tables, smashing SRH’s bowlers to chase it down in just 18 overs—like it was a mere 180-run target.
A few bright spots for SRH: star batsman Abhishek Sharma finally hit form, and they uncovered a handy new spinner in Shivang Kumar, who claimed 3-33 in 4 overs at an economy of 8.25—the best among their attack yesterday.
Coming to the second match of the day, between CSK and DC—with CSK desperately needing a win to climb the points table—and boy, did they deliver! For the first time this season, it felt like the classic CSK was back. Their batting was tremendous, with Sanju Samson smashing his first century for the franchise and Ayush Mhatre chipping in with a solid half-century. CSK’s bowling looked way sharper than in previous games, with every bowler stepping up to take wickets and bundle DC out for 189. But honestly, the fielding stole the show—they fielded like prime Jonty Rhodes, absolutely brilliant, with maginficent efforts from Noor Ahmad, Akeal Hosein, and that unforgettable diving catch by Sarfaraz Khan. What a delight it must’ve been for CSK fans! Now, all that’s missing is their Thala MS Dhoni—but maybe, just maybe, CSK are finally figuring out life without him.
Now, enough about yesterday’s matches. Let’s move on to the 4th double-header of the season. The first afternoon clash pits the two teams who pulled off absolute thrillers last time—LSG snatching victory against KKR with a breakout star in Mukul Choudhary, and GT edging DC in an insane last-ball finish. Now, LSG host GT at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, and here’s everything you need to know before this showdown between IPL’s newest franchises.
Expected Playing 11:
LSG:
- Mitchell Marsh
- Aiden Markram
- Rishabh Pant (C & WK)
- Nicholas Pooran
- Ayush Badoni
- Abdul Samad
- Mukul Choudhary
- Mohammed Shami
- George Linde
- Avesh Khan
- Prince Yadav
Impact Player- Digvesh Rathi
GT:
- Shubman Gill (C)
- Sai Sudharshan
- Jos Buttler
- Washington Sundar
- Glenn Phillips
- Shah Rukh Khan
- Rahul Tewatia
- Rashid Khan
- Kagiso Rabada
- Prasidh Krishna
- Ashok Sharma
Impact Player- Mohammed Siraj
Head to Head:
| Matches- | 7 |
| LSG Won- | 3 |
| GT Won- | 4 |
| No Result- | 0 |
Pitch Report:
The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow boasts a slow, black-soil pitch that really helps spinners and disciplined pacers grip the ball—that’s why adding George Linde strengthens LSG’s bowling attack nicely. GT already packs a world-class spinner in Rashid Khan, backed by Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia who can roll their arms over anytime needed, so bowling on this track should be a treat for both teams’ spinners. The ground isn’t famous for massive scores either, with the average hovering around 160-170 runs.
A scorching afternoon awaits, as ESPN predicts—and it’s spot on—with temperatures climbing to a brutal 36°C and zero chance of rain or dew. Batting first feels like the smarter call here, since the pitch tends to slow down even more as the game wears on into the second innings.
Key Batter-Bowler Battles:
- Pant vs Rashid has the bowler keeping the batter quiet. In 107 balls, Pant has scored only 120 and has been dismissed three times.
- Rabada has dismissed Pooran three times across 28 deliveries in the IPL. Pooran has also scored only 33.
- Shubman Gill has traditionally struggled to get Avesh Khan away. The match-up reads 71 runs in 54 balls and includes four dismissals.
–ESPN CricInfo
Prediction:
It feels like Gujarat Titans might have the edge in this contest, mainly because their side looks more stable and well-balanced than Lucknow Super Giants. LSG undoubtedly have a very talented squad, and we’ve seen that in flashes over the last couple of games, but the concern is their lack of depth. Their bowling unit looks stronger overall than their batting. Yes, individual players have stepped up — like Rishabh Pant against SRH and Mukul Choudhary against KKR — but relying on one player to deliver every time isn’t sustainable.
That’s where GT seem to have the advantage. Their batting lineup has greater depth, going deeper into the order, which becomes crucial, especially in games where the average score is around 160 — those extra runs can make all the difference. On top of that, their bowling has been solid, and with Rashid Khan finding form, they have a genuine match-winner who can turn the game at any point.
If you want to see Rishabh Pant face off against Shubman Gill, then tune into JioHotstar at 3:30 PM IST.
Until next time!
Thank you.
SlogVlog 