IPL 2023, RCB vs LSG: Bangalore focuses on spin play and death overs bowling ahead of Lucknow battle
IPL 2023: Royal Challengers Bangalore hosts Lucknow Super Giants in Match 15 on Monday. In this encounter, the former will focus on spin play and death over bowling. Here is the match preview.
FollowRoyal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will expect more runs from its batters and discipline in death overs bowling when they take on the high-flying Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Monday. RCB came into the match after a demoralising 81-run defeat against former two-time champion Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and would be eager to return to winning ways at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
It's early days in the tournament, but RCB's death bowling has been a significant concern for the team. RCB looked on course to register their second win of the season, but the script went awry after the 12th over. It had the game in its hands, reducing the opposition to 89/5 before KKR went on to post 204/7.
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Against Mumbai, also it went for over 13 runs in the last five overs. Death overs specialists Harshal Patel and Mohammed Siraj, who had done well with the new ball, have struggled at the back end. The absence of Wanindu Hasaranga, who is on national duty, and Josh Hazlewood, who is recovering from an Achilles heel injury, has only amplified RCB's death bowling woes.
Both bowlers are expected to link up with the team this week. But, until then, South African medium pacer Wayne Parnell who has come in as a replacement for Reece Topley, can help with the ball at the back end of the innings. RCB's batting is deep. Openers Virat Kohli and du Plessis did the job in the win against Mumbai, but against KKR, the entire line-up was done in by spin.
They would be wary against the Lucknow spinners, who come into the game on their stellar display in the five-wicket win over former champion SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday. Young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi has continued to impress, taking six wickets, while veteran leggie Amit Mishra and Krunal Pandya have also played impactful roles.
In the pace department, England quick and the tournament joint leading wicket-taker Mark Wood was down with flu and missed the previous game alongside medium pacer Avesh Khan, who injured himself. It is to be seen if the two are available against RCB. Lucknow, who have won two and lost one game, would hope their batters are more consistent. While Kyle Mayers has been outstanding, skipper KL Rahul and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis' form is a concern.
Squads:
LSG: KL Rahul (c & wk), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Amit Mishra, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Naveen ul Haq, Ayush Badoni, Avesh Khan, Karan Sharma, Yudhvir Charak, Yash Thakur, Romario Shepherd, Mark Wood, Swapnil Singh, Manan Vohra, Daniel Sams, Prerak Mankad, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jaydev Unadkat, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi and Mayank Yadav.
RCB: Faf du Plessis (c), Virat Kohli, Mohammad Siraj, Harshal Patel, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Shahbaz Ahmed, Anuj Rawat, Akash Deep, Mahipal Lomror, Finn Allen, Suyash Prabhudesai, Karn Sharma, Siddarth Kaul, David Willey, Wayne Parnell, Himanshu Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Rajan Kumar, Avinash Singh, Sonu Yadav and Michael Bracewell.
Match details
Date and day: April 10, 2023 (Monday)
Venue: M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Time: 7.30 PM (IST)
Where to watch (TV): Star Sports 1 and other Star Sports regional language channels - Also available in HD
Where to watch (Online): JioCinema
(With inputs from PTI)
