In Match 28 of the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffered their third loss of the competition to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). After being placed to bat first, LSG amassed a respectable 161/7 in the 20 overs that were given, with Nicholas Pooran leading the way with a 45 (32).
As a result of their unbeaten 120-run stand, Philip Salt (89* off 47) and skipper Shreyas Iyer (38* off 38) helped KKR easily chase down the mark in just 15.4 overs, winning by eight wickets. LSG presently sits in the middle of the points table in fifth place after their loss, having earned six points from three victories out of their previous six games.
The KL Rahul-led team lost their opening game of the season by 20 runs against the Rajasthan Royals (RR), but they rallied spectacularly to win three straight games against the Gujarat Titans (GT), Punjab Kings (PBKS), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). But following consecutive defeats to the Delhi Capitals (DC) and KKR, their campaign has once again gone awry.
Also read: IPL 2024 Qualification Scenarios: How can Mumbai Indians qualify for the playoffs after CSK’s win over MI?
LSG has a positive net run rate of +0.038, even though they have lost straight games. They face the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in back-to-back home and away games on April 19 and 23, respectively, making their path ahead more difficult. Against the defending champions, who enter the match having won their previous two games, Lucknow will have the enormous burden of returning to winning ways.
Four of the next five games for LSG will be played at home.
Following their match against CSK, LSG will host RR, MI, and KKR for three straight home games. Therefore, four of the next five games will be played in familiar conditions for the KL Rahul-led team, and one of those games will be played away at Chennai, where the weather is expected to be similar to that of Lucknow.
To remain in the running for the playoffs, Lucknow will need to win three of their next five games. They can’t afford to be too lenient moving forward in the competition because they can easily qualify with five more victories from their remaining eight games.
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