IPL 2022 | LSG VS KKR: How to stop Lucknow?

Match 53 of the Indian Premier League 2022 will see Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) take the field against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). 

For Kolkata, all the remaining matches in the tournament are do-or-dies to qualify for the playoffs. On the other hand, LSG have been in great form and have nearly sealed its place in the top four. They need to win one more match to ensure their berth in the knockouts.

KKR, in desperate need of a win, will have to formulate a plan to stop the innings wagon of KL Rahul’s team. Thus, let’s look at what the Men in Purple can do to stop LSG.

Strengths of Lucknow:-

KL Rahul’s form: The skipper of the Lucknow team has been leading from the front. He has scored 451 runs in the tournament so far from 10 matches. His RPI for the tournament reads 45.1, and his strike rate is 145.02. The figures speak volumes of his form in the tournament.

Plan Against Rahul: The best way to stop Rahul is probably putting a left-arm pacer against him at the initial stages, but KKR lacks any such option, and hence they will have to depend on the likes of Umesh Yadav and Tim Southee.

While Rahul has only been dismissed once by Yadav, the pacer has kept him relatively quiet (Strike Rate 126.53). Umesh has been in great form with the new ball in the tournament. Rahul’s weakness against the deliveries nipping in is what Yadav must try and exploit.

Rahul has a decent record against Tim Southee. He has scored at a rate of 128.88, and the Balls Per Dismissal reads 45. Thus, while Umesh looks to attack Rahul, Southee should try and contain him.

Compact Middle Order: The middle order of LSG has looked very formidable. It has become a norm for them that someone or the other plays a valuable knock every day. Let us look at the main middle-order stats of the team.

Deepak Hooda: Hooda has scored 279 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 130 plus. He has provided stability to the batting order.

Krunal Pandya: Pandya has provided the dynamism in the middle order of the team. He has scored 128 runs in the tournament at a strike rate of 143.82.

Ayush Badoni: He impressed everybody in the initial stages with his composure and maturity. But as the tournament went on, the young man’s visible weakness against pacy short balls have gotten rectified. 

Marcus Stoinis: Stoinis has got some starts and looked the part in a few matches but is yet to go big. But a dynamic player like him will definitely pose a threat to KKR.

Plan Against the Middle Order: As we see, most of the LSG middle order comprises Indian batters. So KKR should look to use bowlers like Umesh Yadav and Andre Russell against them, who have a pacy short ball in their repertoire. As and when Stoinis comes out to bat, using Sunil Narine could be a good option.

Weakness of LSG: The young leggie Ravi Bishnoi began the tournament on a high but has gradually lost his form. In the 10 matches he has played, he has just picked up 8 wickets at an average of 39.5. His economy rate has also been higher, reading 8.1 runs per over. His off form has taken a toll on the middle over bowling efforts of the team.

Krunal Pandya has been brilliant till now, covering up for Bishnoi’s failure. He has picked up 9 wickets in 10 matches and has an impressive economy rate of just 6.64. Although taken into the team as a supporting option, he is playing the lead role in the middle overs. 

Plan for KKR: KKR has some good spin players like Shreyas Iyer and Nitish Rana in their middle overs. They must look to take advantage of young Bishnoi’s inexperience and take the attack on him from the very beginning of his spell.

Nitish Rana, being a left-hander, will have an advantage against Krunal Pandya. Rana can look to attack Pandya and put him off his rhythm. If this pays off, KKR will have a great advantage going ahead in the match.