PBKS vs LSG Preview – Punjab look to book double victories over Lucknow
Punjab Kings will host the Lucknow Super Giants in the 38th match of the Indian Premier League 2023 at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. While the visitors, LSG, will be coming off a loss, the hosts will be riding high on confidence, having won their most recent encounter against the Mumbai Indians in a stylish manner.
This will be the second time that the two sides lock horns at the ongoing tournament. When Punjab visited the Ekana Stadium for their previous encounter, the game ended in a thrilling manner as PBKS clinched a victory in the final over with just three balls to spare. Punjab lost eight wickets while chasing the 160-run target set by the Lucknow Super Giants but managed to clinch a victory from the jaws of defeat.
LSG skipper KL Rahul had top-scored for his side with a 56-ball 74, but no other batter could create an impact in the first innings. While defending the total, all-rounder Sikandar Raza’s brilliance helped Punjab get closer to the target and Shahrukh Khan’s destructive 23-ball 10 towards the end helped the side win the game. Having lost one contest already against the side, LSG would be hoping to level it and bounce back on the winning track.
Pitch and conditions
The surface at the PCA Stadium in Mohali assists the batters as well as the pacers. Spinners don’t have much of a role to play here. It is not a high-scoring venue, but the batters can do well once they adapt to the conditions.
Venue details: Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali
Last T20 match at the venue: RCB- 174/4 (20 overs) | PBKS – 150 (18.2 overs)
Probable playing XI for Punjab Kings vs Lucknow Super Giants clash:
Punjab Kings
The Men in Red clinched a terrific victory in their previous game, and stand-in skipper Sam Curran’s knock and Arshdeep Singh’s final-over heroics were lauded by many. The Young pacer would be aiming to put up a similar performance, while regular skipper Shikhar Dhawan would hope to recover soon.
Lucknow Super Giants
Lucknow came very close to a victory in their previous game against the defending champions Gujarat Titans, but a batting collapse led to them falling short of seven runs while chasing a meagre 136-run target. It was a humiliating defeat and hence, the KL Rahul-led side would be hoping to turn the tables around.
