Lucknow Super Giants had an excellent debut season in the IPL 2022 edition where they reached the playoffs under the leadership of India’s star batsman KL Rahul. Having had a good enough start to their IPL journey, the LSG team didn’t make that many changes to their potential core in the mini auctions that happened a few months back.
While they did let go of West Indies players like Evin Lewis and Jason Holder, the LSG got 2 Windies players at the auctions in Nicholas Pooran and all-rounder Romario Shepard. This should boost the squad significantly as both these players have done well in the shortest format of the game. The Super Giants will start their campaign against a strong Delhi Capitals side in what is a home game for the LSG team on the 1st of April 2023.
Lucknow Super Giants squad (IPL 2023): KL Rahul, Ayush Badoni, Karan Sharma, Manan Vohra, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Krishnappa Gowtham, Deepak Hooda, Kyle Mayers, Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Mark Wood, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Nicholas Pooran, Jaydev Unadkat, Yash Thakur, Romario Shepherd, Daniel Sams, Amit Mishra, Prerak Mankad, Swapnil Singh, Naveen ul Haq, Yudhvir Charak
Predicting the Playing XI for Lucknow Super Giants (IPL 2023)
Openers: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock
The Lucknow Super Giants boasts a great opening pair in Quinton de Kock and skipper KL Rahul. The talented left-right combo can take the game away from the opposition in the powerplays and are wonderful stroke players. They have the potential to unsettle any opposition bowlers on their day and Lucknow could go the distance if the duo has a fruitful season this IPL.
KL Rahul hasn’t been at his best in recent times as far as international cricket is concerned but in IPL he has been a different beast. Averaging a stunning 48 in the toughest T20 league in a career spanning about 109 games and achieving that with a strike rate of 136, Rahul is up there with the best in IPL cricket.
Quinton, the keeper-batsman from South Africa is a fantastic white ball player and has been prolific for both South Africa as well as for the different IPL teams he has played for.
Middle-order: Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni
Deepak Hooda since the last IPL has become a regular for the Indian team in T20Is and has even scored a century in the format. This gives the team management confidence in the all-rounder to come good for the team at the crucial No.3 slot. Hooda has done reasonably well in the IPL and especially in the last season, where he played his best cricket in the IPL yet. The all-rounder repaid the faith shown by the team management to play him at no.3 by amassing 451 runs at a strike rate of over 136 with 4 half-centuries in 15 games.
Nicholas Pooran was brought by the LSG for a whopping 16 crores in the auction, despite his inconsistent show in the IPL over the years. Though he had a better IPL season in 2022 where he made 306 runs at a strike rate of over of 144, Pooran was let go by the SRH franchise. Lucknow has seemingly a lot of interest in Pooran and he should bat at No.4 in the current batting order of LSG.
Ayush Badoni, the 23-year-old batter had a decent beginning to his IPL career scoring a half-century on debut but faded away a little at the end. But he is a great prospect for the LSG team in the middle order and the Rahul-led side will hope for several impressive outings by Badoni.
All-rounders: Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham/ Mohsin Khan
Marcus Stoinis is one of the most powerful strikers of the ball going around in the world of cricket and should be an automatic pick in the LSG playing XI. He has played several match-winning hands with both bat & ball and the LSG will expect great things from him in the upcoming season of IPL.
Krunal Pandya is a bonafide all-rounder in the IPL having taken 61 wickets and scored 1326 runs in 98 games. He has contributed immensely to the sides he featured for. The last season proved to be a mixed bag for Krunal where he wasn’t at his usual best, and the all-rounder will look for an improved showing in 2023. Krishnappa Gowtham may have to play the off-spinner role and bowl at the powerplays when required. And that slot in the playing XI can be a toss-up between him and the left-arm seamer Mohsin Khan.
Bowlers: Avesh Khan, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi
LSG will largely benefit if they have the pace attack of Avesh Khan and the fearsome Mark Wood in their ranks. Both are really quick and are genuine wicket-takers on their day. It will be interesting to see if Wood gets through to play the entire IPL without getting injured and if he does, it will be a huge boost for the LSG. Avesh has done really well in the IPL and in the last edition, the Indian quickie picked 18 wickets to go along with his 23-wicket tally in the 2021 edition.
Last but not the least, Ravi Bishnoi is a must-have in the side and he can be the match-winner that LSG are looking for with the ball in hand.
You can find here the other franchise’s probable starting XI for IPL 2023 here.
Lucknow probable playing XI: KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham/ Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Mark Wood, Ravi Bishnoi
