IPL 2022: Eliminator Preview – LSG vs RCB – Lucknow up against Bangalore

The Lucknow Super Giants will be locking horns with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2022 Eliminator at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on May 25. Unlike Qualifier 1, the losing team does not get a second chance on this occasion and they would be knocked out from this year’s competition. Lucknow would be heading into this clash after a hard-fought two-run win over the Kolkata Knight Riders while Bangalore had got the better of the table-toppers Gujarat Titans by eight wickets.

Rajasthan Royals’ five-wicket win in their final league fixture over the Chennai Super Kings pushed LSG to the third position as a result of which they had to play the Eliminator while Mumbai Indians’ triumph over the Delhi Capitals gave RCB an entry into the playoffs.

LSG seems to have ticked the boxes in all departments, especially with the top-order regaining their form. Nonetheless, the fragile middle-order must come good in the knockout clash.

RCB, on the other hand, have been over-reliant on Wanindu Hasaranga in the bowling department and veteran wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik. They cannot afford to depend on a couple of players from hereon and instead focus on coming up with a complete team performance to break the Eliminator hurdle after two unsuccessful attempts in 2020 and 2021 editions.

More importantly, the inclement weather conditions are also expected to play a spoilsport in this contest and should the contest be washed away, there is no reserve day in place, which means that RCB would be eliminated since they are placed fourth with a negative NRR.

Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Playing XI

Lucknow Super Giants

The Lucknow Super Giants would not be interested in making any changes. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis could get another chance after a match-winning spell against KKR while Windies batting sensation Evin Lewis might be benched.

Quinton de Kock (wk), KL Rahul (c), Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Manan Vohra, Marcus Stoinis, Jason Holder, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Avesh Khan

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore will not be tampering with their winning combination. With batting megastar Virat Kohli regaining his form, Bangalore would be heaving a sigh of relief heading into this knockout clash.

Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed, Wanindu Hasranga, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood