A confident Lucknow Super Giants will be out to seek revenge in its reverse fixture against a wounded Delhi Capitals in a tussle for the top spot in the Indian Premier League at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.
Super Giants clinched a nervy two-run win against Rajasthan Royals in their previous match, courtesy Avesh Khan’s pinpoint yorkers in the final over, while Capitals failed to defend a total in excess of 200 runs for the first time in their defeat to Gujarat Titans.
But DC too emerged victorious in a Super Over scramble against the Royals earlier, thanks to Starc’s toe-crushers in the last over, and his yorker battle with Avesh will be exciting.
Lucknow Super Giants spin duo Ravi Bishnoi, right, and Digvesh Rathi.
| Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Bikas Das
Lucknow Super Giants spin duo Ravi Bishnoi, right, and Digvesh Rathi.
| Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Bikas Das
However, it is the tantalising clash between two well-rounded spin-bowling units that could be decisive. Digvesh Rathi, LSG’s find of the season, has led the host’s spin attack, with help from Ravi Bishnoi. The duo was instrumental in restricting Gujarat Titans to 180 after a first-wicket stand of 120.
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Having experienced significant middle-overs slowdowns in its last two games, against Titans and Royals, Delhi will be wary of this spin combination.
Red-soil pitch likely
However, a red-soil pitch is likely to be used, which may not favour the host as it has lost both its matches on this type of soil at this venue.
Moreover, Delhi’s spin trio of Kuldeep Yadav, skipper Axar Patel and local boy Vipraj Nigam will be a handful.
Orange Cap holder Nicholas Pooran is a marauder of spin bowling, but has struggled against Kuldeep, scoring at a strike rate of just 105.71 while being dismissed five times in 11 innings against the left-arm wrist-spinner.
DC will want the injured Faf du Plessis to return and bolster the top order. Meanwhile, Mayank Yadav, who had picked up a freak toe injury, could provide the missing X-factor to LSG’s pace arsenal.