"They can rest Naveen-ul-Haq and play Kyle Mayers" - Aakash Chopra on Lucknow Super Giants' IPL 2023 clash vs KKR

Aakash Chopra reckons the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will recall Kyle Mayers into their playing XI at the expense of Naveen-ul-Haq for their IPL 2023 clash against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

The two sides will square off at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the evening game on Saturday, May 19. While a win for Krunal Pandya and Co. will secure them a playoff berth, a loss could eventually lead to their exit from the tournament.

While previewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra opined that the Lucknow Super Giants might go with four overseas batters, including Mayers, elaborating:

"Lucknow can go with all four overseas batters. They can rest Naveen-ul-Haq and play Kyle Mayers and expect that he negotiates Sunil Narine's threat. Quinton de Kock, Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni, Prerak Mankad, Krunal Pandya - this should be their top seven."

The former KKR player chose the all-Indian bowling attack the visitors might field, stating:

"In bowling, Yash Thakur, Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan - three fast bowlers, and then three spinners - Ravi Bishnoi, Amit Mishra and Krunal Pandya. This is the kind of lineup that I am thinking of."

Ravi Bishnoi, with 14 scalps, is the Lucknow Super Giants' highest wicket-taker in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League. While Krunal Pandya, Yash Thakur and Avesh Khan have picked up eight wickets apiece, Amit Mishra has accounted for seven dismissals.

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"The Kolkata team will once again attack with spin" - Aakash Chopra on KKR's likely plan against the Lucknow Super Giants

Varun Chakaravarthy is KKR's highest wicket-taker in IPL 2023. [P/C: iplt20.com]

Aakash Chopra expects the Kolkata Knight Riders to look to bamboozle the Lucknow Super Giants batters with their spinners, saying:

"The Kolkata team will once again attack with spin - Suyash Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine, who has actually gotten back to some kind of wicket-taking form. Only God knows how the fast bowlers will be used because that's typical Kolkata."

The reputed commentator added that KKR have a formidable batting lineup in home conditions, observing:

"Batting has the form now. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Jason Roy play well at home, Nitish Rana plays amazingly well at home and Rinku Singh is playing well in any case. So they have got enough batting to take them home."

Chopra concluded by stating that he doesn't see a clear favorite in the LSG-KKR clash. However, he pointed out that rain could play spoilsport in an expected tight match.