IPL 2023: 3 Key Match-Ups to Watch-Out in LSG VS PBKS Match No.21

IPL 2023: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will cross swords with the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match number 21 of the IPL 2023 season. The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow will host the high-voltage match between the two teams on Saturday night, April 15. When it comes to the head-to-head battle in the 2023 season, LSG and PBKS have only played one game which happened in the last season. In the match, LSG prevailed by a score of 20 runs while defending a 153-run total.

Like last season, LSG looks like a team to beat. They started the tournament brilliantly, winning three out of their four matches. With three wins, LSG is currently placed second in the points table, behind Rajasthan Royals (RR). Playing at their home ground, LSG will be well aware of the conditions and the pitch. LSG spinners will be a force to reckon with. While Mark Wood is expected to play a key role in the side for LSG and will be a key bowler in the powerplay. Skipper KL Rahul should lead from the front with the bat as he hasn’t been able to discover his form yet.

After winning their first two games, PBKS are in a spot of bother as they have lost their last two games. The major concern for them in both losses has been the form of their batters. In both games, they couldn’t post a big total which resulted in their downfall. Bowlers have fared well but they need the support from their batters to get past LSG. Punjab has a strong spin duo in Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar, who can provide breakthroughs in the middle overs and put PBKS on the top.

IPL 2023: Top Player Battles to Keep an Eye on in LSG VS PBKS Game

3) KL Rahul vs Arshdeep Singh

As LSG’s KL Rahul and PBKS’ Arshdeep Singh open the proceedings in their respective departments, they are bound to tackle each other. Rahul hasn’t been among runs and hasn’t scored freely this season and he would like to turn things around for himself in the game against PBKS. The LSG opener has to make full use of the field restrictions in the first six overs to set himself up for a big score. However, it will not be very easy as PBKS’ new ball bowlers have been in great form, especially Arshdeep Singh. The left-arm seamer has had a great tournament so far and will look to continue his rhythm against the out-of-form Rahul.

2) Shikhar Dhawan vs Amit Mishra

Having scored 233 runs in four games, Shikhar Dhawan is currently the highest run-scorer in the tournament. He has been the most prolific batter for his team and has carried the burden of the PBKS batting department. The Southpaw has been a lone warrior for his team and will be very difficult to stop once he gets set. Although Dhawan is a great player of spin but has found it difficult against the right-arm leg-break bowlers since 2019 as averages only 25 against them. LSG has two leg spinners- Ravi Bishnoi and Amit Mishra. While Bishnoi is relatively new to the circuit, Mishra is an experienced campaigner and has played a lot of cricket with and against Dhawan. Mishra has dismissed the left-handed batter thrice in his IPL career. 

IPL 2023: 1) Jitesh Sharma vs Ravi Bishnoi

Punjab Kings’ wicketkeeper-batter scored 77 runs in the four innings this season. In the first four games of the season, he has failed to convert his starts into a big total. He is due for runs and will be gunning to score plenty more. Jitesh is the kind of player who likes to take on the bowlers, especially the spinners. He’s a naturally aggressive batter when it comes to the spinners. But it won’t be very easy against Ravi Bishnoi, who has taken six wickets in four outings so far in the tournament. Much like Rashid Khan, Bishnoi bowls quicker and that’s how he gets the batter off the opposition batters. During the middle-overs phase, Jitesh will have to negotiate with Bishnoi’s bowling.