IPL 2023: 3 Players Who Will Be Crucial for Lucknow Super Giants in LSG vs MI Eliminator

IPL 2023: The first knockout game of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League will be played on Wednesday. It will feature the five-time champion Mumbai Indians taking on the Lucknow Super Giants at Chepauk Stadium. Both teams won their last game convincingly, which helped them qualify for the playoffs. However, now they will be facing off against each other to move one step closer to the final.

Both teams have played three times in IPL history, and it’s been LSG that has won all three games, including a win earlier this season. So can they maintain their track record against the most successful IPL team? Or MI can bounce back and register their first win over Lucknow. In this article, we will discuss three important Lucknow players to win in LSG vs MI Eliminator.

IPL 2023: Three Crucial Lucknow players in LSG vs MI Eliminator

3. Nicholas Pooran

Former West Indian captain Nicholas Pooran has been in red-hot form. Many doubted the decision of the franchise when it invested INR 16 crore on the left-hander at the auction. But he has repaid that trust to some extent. He is the third highest scorer for the franchise this season. Despite coming to bat down the order, he has scored runs and played quick innings regularly.

Pooran has scored 358 runs so far at an average of 32.54 and a brilliant strike rate of 173.78, with 26 sixes. He is coming off a match-winning 58 off 30 against KKR when Lucknow was struggling. Pooran scored an unbeaten 8 against MI in the previous meeting and will look to take his score to a big one this time around.

2. Quinton de Kock

South African star Quinton de Kock was part of MI’s setup from 2018 to 2021 before joining LSG. He had just played for four games this season after skipper KL Rahul was ruled out of the competition. De Kock is very vital for LSG’s success at the top of the order. The left-hander will be a big player when they face MI on Wednesday because he knows how they think as a former player.

This season, De Kock has scored 143 runs in four innings at an average and strike rate of 35.75 and 140.40, respectively. He will look to have an impact in the game because MI is a strong side, and to beat them, Lucknow will hope De Kock delivers a match-winning performance. And it will not be a surprise if he can do it in the Eliminator.

1. Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis is the one who always sets the tone for the team in the middle order. His consistent batting performances and cameos help other batters take their time and then move on. The Australian all-rounder will hold a big key for Lucknow because it will be an interesting contest between him and the Mumbai bowlers.

This season, he has scored 368 runs at an average of 30.56 and a strike rate of 159.20. He has also smashed three half-centuries and 26 sixes. Stoinis likes to dominate and take on the bowlers right away, which will be the biggest challenge for MI in the Eliminator because they can’t let him get away. Adding to that, Stoinis is also bowling some important overs in the middle, and batters can find him difficult to face at Chepauk Stadium with his slower ones.