In four meetings since their inception in the IPL, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) haven't beaten the Gujarat Titans (GT). When they face off at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Sunday, April 7, the home team might have their best chance of setting that record straight.
The Titans are going through a tough period of transition and haven't hit their straps yet under Shubman Gill. They won two of their first three games, including a commendable win over the Mumbai Indians but squandered a winning position against the Punjab Kings in their last game in Ahmedabad.
Meanwhile, the Super Giants have won their last two games to inject some momentum into their campaign. KL Rahul and Co. turned in a clinical display against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their last outing and will look to keep their unbeaten home record intact.
Can LSG leapfrog the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2024 standings with a win, or will GT enter the top half of the points table?
IPL 2024, LSG vs GT: Shubman Gill turns to Rashid Khan to deliver
GT's star man, Rashid Khan, hasn't been at his best with the ball in IPL 2024. Oppositions have been willing to take more risks against him, and his accuracy has let him down on occasion. However, with Noor Ahmad for company at the other end, the Titans vice-captain simply has to deliver.
There's no word on whether David Miller has recovered from injury, meaning that GT might not have the requisite intent in the middle overs. Nevertheless,, they are a team that has often relied on stability rather than flashiness and have found a way to win.
LSG and GT are contrasting teams in many ways. The Super Giants love defending totals, while the Titans love chasing them. Gujarat don't have an express pacer in their attack like Lucknow do with the exciting Mayank Yadav, and they play two overseas spinners instead to assume control over the middle overs.
So this clash could come down to the key run-scoring battles between the opening combinations. The powerplay is an important phase of play at the Ekana Stadium, and the team that maximizes it could win the game.
While LSG have been good in the middle overs, their powerplay threat hasn't been great this season. Mohsin Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq have looked off-color, while Yash Thakur has been expensive in the middle overs at the death. Unless M Siddharth can produce something special against Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha, Gujarat could have the platform to give their middle order some cushion.
LSG are arguably the better team on paper and also come into this game in better form. However, they are an inconsistent side, and their strengths might not mean much against GT.
The Titans are the underdogs in the clash, but an upset could be on the cards.
Prediction: GT to win Match 21 of IPL 2024
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