The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have had a rollercoaster season so far, struggling with inconsistency and finding themselves outside of the top-four race. However, with the upcoming Karnataka elections, RCB has a chance to climb up the points table.
On May 1, 2023, RCB will play against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. This stadium’s conditions differ from the Chinnaswamy, and RCB will embark on a six-game road trip starting Monday. RCB’s bowlers have found it difficult to adapt to the true pitches at home this season, but they’ll relish the opportunity to bowl on a venue that has the lowest average first innings score this season (152).
RCB’s top batsmen, Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis, and Glenn Maxwell, will need to adjust their game to suit the challenging ground conditions. They’ve had an average strike rate of 162.34 this season, but they may need to bat more conservatively since other batters around them have struggled.
LSG has had mixed results playing in Lucknow. Their batting unit scored an impressive 257 on a true belter in Mohali, but they’ve struggled on sluggish home pitches. However, their bowlers have made the most of the conditions, taking 30 wickets in four games and having the best average (18.50), strike rate (15.90), and economy rate (6.98) for a home side this season.
The previous encounter between these two teams this season was a nail-biting, last-ball finish at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Runs may not be as easy to come by at LSG’s home ground, but with the opposing strengths of the two teams, we can expect another close contest, even if it’s low-scoring.
According to the pitch report, batting will be challenging for both teams. The average first innings score of 152 is the lowest across venues this season. Thunderstorms are expected an hour before the game, but it’s not expected to affect the match.
RCB has a 2-1 lead over LSG in their head-to-head encounters, with RCB batting first in all three games. Marcus Stoinis’s availability will depend on his fitness test on Sunday (April 30). The Australian all-rounder injured his finger in the previous match after being struck by an Atharva Taide drive on his follow-through.
Avesh Khan has done well against RCB openers Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis in the past. He’s bowled 22 balls to Kohli, conceded only 23 runs, and dismissed him twice. To Du Plessis, he has conceded 48 runs off 41 balls and dismissed him once. The clashes between Amit Mishra and RCB stalwarts Kohli and Glenn Maxwell will also be intense, with Kohli dismissing Mishra twice in 24 balls and Mishra getting the better of Maxwell three times in 26 deliveries.
In conclusion, both RCB and LSG will be looking for a much-needed win despite their different strengths and weaknesses. Although the pitch and weather conditions may not be ideal, it’s an opportunity for both teams to demonstrate their mettle and adapt to challenging circumstances. With the top-four race becoming more intense with each passing game, RCB and LSG will be hoping to come out on top in this critical match and gain some momentum in the tournament.
