Shikhar Dhawan: “We gave too many runs away and we paid the price for it. [Asked about the decision to bowl first at the toss] I feel that the strategy to play with one extra fast bowler backfired whereas KL used an extra spinner. I tried to change something and it didn’t work but that’s all right. It’s good learning for me and we’ll come back better and stronger. [Asked about Shahrukh held back to No. 8] There was no particular reason. Livi was there and even Sam hits quite well so that’s how we kept it. [Using the impact sub] It’s good. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t but that’s how it is.”
Nicholas Pooran: “I think we are more happy that we got those two points at the end of the night. I felt it was a really good batting wicket. The bowlers, we knew that there was one big side and one short side and once you can control the Powerplay, we were going to try to make the batters hit into the bigger side. [On the review not taken down the leg side] I’m under some pressure taking some reviews right now. Of late, I haven’t been successful in taking reviews so I’ll let that one pass today. [On wk practice] I don’t really do much, to be honest. I believe the less I practice, I keep better. It’s all about catching the ball with soft hands and keeping it simple. [On not reaching 50] Unfortunately, but so it goes. I’m happy to contribute to the team’s performance. There are times as batsmen we don’t score many runs but I’ll take 40-odd any day.”
Lucknow Super Giants vs Punjab Kings Highlights today, Friday 28-4-2023. 38th Match (N), Indian Premier League 2023, Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.
KL Rahul says he has given his team a bit of feedback about how the ground plays at Mohali, having played here for Kings XI. “Dew does become a factor, that’s why teams choose to bowl first.” LSG is playing an unchanged lineup.
Shikhar says his shoulder is much better and pain-free now: “We’re quite happy. We’ve got seven matches ahead, hopefully, we win most of them and qualify easily.” Matt Short is out, and Sikandar Raza comes in. And a debutant fast bowler… Gurnoor Brar*, not Baltej Singh.
Toss: Punjab Kings chose to field.
Lucknow Super Giants team: 1 KL Rahul (capt.), 2 Kyle Mayers, 3 Krunal Pandya, 4 Marcus Stoinis, 5 Deepak Hooda, 6 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 7 Ayush Badoni, 8 Naveen-ul-Haq, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Yash Thakur.
Punjab Kings team: 1 Shikhar Dhawan (capt.), 2 Atharva Taide, 3 Sikandar Raza, 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Sam Curran, 6 Jitesh Sharma, 7 Shahrukh Khan, 8 Kagiso Rabada, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Gurnoor Brar, 11 Arshdeep Singh.
Head to Head In T20’s: 2
Lucknow Super Giants Won: 1
Punjab Kings Won: 1
Form guide
(last five completed Matches, most recent first)
Lucknow Super Giants LWLWW
Punjab Kings WLWLL
Match Timings: 2:00 PM GMT | 7:30 PM Local
Umpires – Nitin Menon, Vinod Seshan
TV Umpire – Saiyed Khalid
Match Referee – Shakti Singh
Reserve Umpire – VM Dhokre
Match number – IPL 2023 – 38th Match
IPL Points Table
Pitch and weather: The previous game in Mohali was played on a slightly dry surface where Royal Challengers Bangalore found enough grip to turn the tables on Kings after threatening to post a 200-plus score. But that was an afternoon game. In the evening, the effect of dew will mean the side batting first will want a little extra cushion in their defense. Spinners could have a bigger role given the ground dimensions.
