IPL match preview: Punjab Kings v Lucknow Super Giants
The Punjab Kings are fighting to get out of the bottom half of the 2023 Indian Premier League table, while the Lucknow Super Giants want to retain their top-half status.
Lucknow Super Giants.Punjab and the Super Giants are both chasing a maiden IPL title. Of course, the Kings have had many seasons to do so, while this is only the Super Giants' second year in the tournament. Let's see how they will fare against each other this time.
Punjab will go into this match on the back of victory over the Mumbai Indians. The Kings managed to stop the five-time title holders' resurgence of three wins in a row after four losses on the trot. And Punjab managed this without captain and key batsman Shikhar Dhawan.
Dhawan has been sidelined by injury for a few fixtures now. It will be interesting to see if he returns for this one, which would in turn release all-rounder Sam Curran of the stand-in captaincy. Curran can then solely concentrate on his primary roles with bat and ball.
The Super Giants have not played since Saturday, when they lost to the Gujarat Titans - and could again be rusty this time. Lucknow have not yet found a spot for South African big-hitter Quinton de Kock in their XI - and this match might be their cue.
Punjab and Lucknow met once in 2022 and once more in 2023. They have a victory each. Earlier this season, the Kings beat the Super Giants in a tight result at Lucknow. This return fixture could go either way.
England fast bowler Mark Wood was the leading wicket-taker in the 2023 IPL for an extended period. He remains the only man to take a five-for this IPL season. He won't be available for Lucknow during the latter stages of the tournament. For now, he can capitalise - for himself and his team - with the time left.
Matthew Short's role at the top of the order for Punjab will become all the more important if Dhawan is again absent. Short starred in Australia's Big Bash League, but hasn't quite got to grips with conditions in India yet.
Neither team have strung together a semblance of consistency recently. But the Super Giants have three wins in their last five matches to go on. There's some momentum, which should translate to another win over the Kings.