Lucknow Super Giants  are gearing up to host Mumbai Indians  in match number 48 of TATA IPL 2024 at Ekana Stadium. Both teams are looking to recover from recent losses and regain their footing in the competition.

The Super Giants, currently fifth in the standings with 10 points from nine games, faced a setback in their last match against the table-topping Rajasthan Royals. As they seek to return to their winning ways, LSG will lean on their top performers: KL Rahul, who leads their batting lineup with 378 runs from nine games, and Nicholas Pooran, who follows with 291 runs at a striking rate of 165.34. Yash Thakur, with 10 wickets, leads their bowling attack, supported by Mohsin Khan, who has taken seven wickets.

Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians come into this match after suffering consecutive losses, placing them second from the bottom of the table with just six points from nine games. With their playoff hopes hanging by a thread, MI needs a strong comeback. Key players like Tilak Varma and Rohit Sharma, who have scored 336 and 311 runs respectively, will be crucial for their resurgence. The bowling unit is anchored by Jasprit Bumrah, who has impressively claimed 14 wickets with an economy rate of 6.63, and Gerald Coetzee, who has added 12 wickets.

As both teams face crucial circumstances, this upcoming clash at Ekana Stadium promises high stakes and intense competition, with each side desperate to claim a victory and boost their prospects for the remainder of the season.

Birthday Bash   :  ROHIT SHARMA  ( TURNS 37 YEARS YOUNG !! )
 

Head-To-Head In IPL:
In the four games played between the two teams, LSG have managed to win thrice while MI has won only once.

Milestones Alert  :

2 - KL Rahul (48) is two hits away from completing 50 sixes for LSG in IPL.
2 - Nicholas Pooran (48) is two hits away from completing 50 sixes for LSG in IPL.
4 - Hardik Pandya (46) needs four wickets to complete 50 wickets for MI in IPL.
6 - Tim David (44) needs six sixes to complete 50 maximums in IPL.
8 - Krunal Pandya (92) needs eight sixes to complete 100 sixes in T20s.
10 - Rohit Sharma (490) needs 10 fours to complete 500 fours for MI in IPL.
35 - KL Rahul (867) needs 35 runs to become the leading run-scorer against MI in IPL.

Pitch Report:

Graeme Swann and Aaron Finch: "It's a used pitch as we identified by the footmarks. 66m square - shorter side, the pockets are about 71m, straight down the ground it is 76m. 163 was the score here last time and they defended it. That should give the bowlers a lot of confidence. There is a little bit of grass on the surface and as we come down the strip a little bit more, you see some bare patches. I expect it to be on the slower side. Expect the ball to spin and hold in the wicket a little bit more. There's a bit of a breeze tonight. It is bowler's night." 

TOSS UPDATE:   WON THE TOSS AND ELECTED TO BOWL  

KL Rahul   Skipper : "We've opted to bowl first. The pitch looks good, and we want to put their batsmen under pressure and chase down the target. We're aiming to maintain balance and put on a good performance. We've made some changes in the team. Mayank Yadav is back, and we're eager to get him on the field. He's worked hard to recover from his injury, and we're pushing him to play confidently. He's crucial for us, especially in the bowling department." 

Hardik Pandya Skipper : "It's okay. We would've preferred to bowl first as well. The pitch seems a bit slow, and we'll see how it behaves. We need to focus on the basics and control what we can. Each game is crucial for us, so we're taking it one match at a time. Coetzee comes in for Wood. Despite the injuries and changes, we always believe in our abilities when we step onto the field."