IPL match preview: Lucknow Super Giants v Chennai Super Kings

The Super Giants will go into this match in third position in the 10-team standings. They are looking to bounce back from recent defeat to the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Lucknow will be more comfortable playing at their home ground.

Lucknow might have to play this match without captain KL Rahul. He sustained an injury during the defeat to RCB. Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis could be in doubt, too, as he has a minor finger injury.

Chennai's pursuit of a record-equaling fifth IPL title has taken a couple of blows. They will go into this game on the back of successive defeats. What they got wrong against the Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals, they really need to correct here.

This will be CSK's chance to capitalise against a weakened LSG outfit. The hosts are also missing fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat. He has been ruled out of the rest of the 2023 IPL because of shoulder injury.

Chennai and Lucknow have a brief history. They've played each other once. They each have a win. Their most recent result was exactly a month ago, when CSK won a relatively tight affair by 12 runs.

If Rahul is ruled out for the Super Giants, all-rounder Krunal Pandya will likely captain the hosts. He is a major asset with the bat and ball - and can't let the additional responsibility negatively affect his primary roles.

Tushar Deshpande remains important to Chennai's new-ball pursuits in the absence of the injured Deepak Chahar. He's not as experienced as Chahar, but Deshpande has been in solid enough form and could put in another big performance here.

The Super Kings are looking in better shape to win here. Lucknow are batting a few injuries, while CSK will be highly motivated to not lose three matches in a row.