IPL 2024: Lucknow Super Giants’ strongest predicted playing XI against Rajasthan Royals

LSG. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is set to face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their first match of the IPL 2024. In the afternoon game of the Super Sunday, LSG will be taking on the inaugural champions in their backyard. The match is set to take place at Sawai Mansingh stadium in Jaipur, which happened to be RR’s fortress at one point in the league. Both teams would be excited for their first match of the 17th edition.

It is promising to be a good game, as both teams have some of the best players in the world. RR has the likes of Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson in their top order. They also have the likes of Rovman Powell, Dhruv Jurel, and Riyan Parag in the middle order. RR’s bowling lineup has some very good names like Trent Boult, Nandre Burger, Avesh Khan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, and others.

LSG has a very good team as well. They have been a good side in the league till now. In the IPL 2022, they made their debut and entered the Eliminator in the season. LSG repeated the feat of making it to the Eliminator for the second time in a row. They lost to MI in the Eliminator in 2023. This time around, LSG would be hoping to improve their record in the IPL.

Here’s the possible playing XI of LSG with impact players for their inaugural game of the season against RR:

1. Top order

de kock and Pooran ( photo source: X / Twitter )

LSG has several options to bat at the top. It will be a difficult decision for them to pick one amongst Kyle Mayers and Quinton De Kock. But given the bowling abilities of Mayers, LSG is likely to go with him. Both of them would be good for LSG, as they have proved in the past. As there are many wicket keepers in the lineup, LSG would open with Mayers in the starting lineup. 

To start alongside Mayers would be Devdutt Padikkal, who was picked in the IPL auction 2024. He has been in brilliant form in the last few months. At number 3, Nicholas Pooran is likely to bat. The star batter brings aggression and thrives against opponents by smashing boundaries for fun. The three batters form a great top order despite all of them being left-handed batters. 

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Middle Order

KL Rahul, Krunal, Stonis ( Photo source: X / Twitter )

In the middle order, LSG have a lot of options. An added advantage is that most of them are Indian players. LSG will have a major change in their batting order in the 17th edition of the league, as KL Rahul is likely to bat at number 4. The decision would allow star strikers like Pooran, Mayers, and De Kock to go hard at the top. Rahul is also likely to be the wicketkeeper of the side.

At numbers 5 and 6, LSG is likely to go with the All-Rounders duo of Krunal Pandya and Marcus Stoinis respectively. The two players can contribute both as batters and bowlers. While Krunal can anchor the innings as a batter and provide some spin bowling, Stonis can finish the innings and provide a few overs of medium-pace bowling. The duo provide a good balance to the lineup of LSG.

Lower middle Order

Deepak Hooda and K Gowtham ( Photo source: X / Twitter )

LSG’s lower middle order consists of two Indian players who can make an impact. While one of them would start in the side, the other is likely to come in as the impact player while batting. Krishnappa Gowtham will be the finisher who can bowl. The experienced player can bowl economical bowlers and deliver with the bat later in the innings. LSG has some other option as well who can be handy as All Rounders.

Deepak Hooda is one of those, who can bat at the top order and in the lower middle order as well. But LSG is likely to have Ayush Badoni as the finisher, who has played some impactful cameos in the past. Coming lower down the order, he can smash the bowlers all around the park. His batting will be useful for LSG in case the top and the middle order batters fail to do the job.

Bowlers

Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan and Naveen ul Haq ( Photo source: X / Twitter )

LSG have a lot of options as bowlers. But they are likely to have Mohsin Khan as the leader of their attack. The left-arm pacer was brilliant in the IPL 2022 where he showcased his talent in all the phases of the game. To assist him, it would be Naveen-ul-Haq who bowled well in the IPL 2023. LSG also have the sensational Shamar Joseph. But Naveen is likely to start in the XI due to his previous stint with LSG. 

In addition to it, LSG have the pace of Yash Thakur, who can bowl yorkers at the death. Along with Mohsin, he is likely to bowl at the death for LSG. Ravi Bishnoi is likely to be the spinner in the attack. As they have Krunal who can deliver four overs of spin, the North Indian franchise is likely to go with only Bishnoi as the other spinner. In addition to that, they also have bowling options from Marcus Stoinis and Kyle Mayers. 

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