We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report
The last four matches at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune have been won by the teams defending a score. The square boundaries are slightly bigger and that is likely to keep the bowlers interested.
Teams
Probable XI for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock* (wk), Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis*, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Jason Holder*, Dushmantha Chameera*, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
Probable XI for Kolkata: Sam Billings*, Sunil Narine*, Shreyas Iyer (c), Baba Indrajith (wk), Nitish Rana, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell*, Rinku Singh, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee*, Shivam Mavi
Power Players
Andre Russell has not only been a hit for Kolkata this season but has also rewarded the fantasy players handsomely. Besides scoring 227 runs at 32, he has also picked 10 wickets.
KL Rahul will be the biggest threat to Kolkata. In his last five innings, the LSG skipper has scored two unbeaten centuries and a half-century. He might refrain from going hammer and tongs at the beginning but has the ability to switch gears at the end.
Smart Picks
Mohsin Khan has really been a useful addition to the LSG squad. He has picked up 7 wickets in 4 matches, including the best figures of 4 for 16 against Delhi.
Nitish Rana has not been at his best in this edition, but he has shown signs of getting back to form by scoring 48* and 57 in his last two innings.
With 6 catches and 100 runs in his last three outings, Rinku Singh has been a dark horse in fantasy leagues. He is a neat catcher, who often fields in the deep. Given the nature of the game, expect many more to land in his safe hands.
In most games this season, Quinton de Kock has managed to exploit the field restrictions in the powerplay. That said, he has only two half-centuries to show for his effort. Moreover, given his vulnerability against off-spin bowling in the powerplay, he could fall prey to Sunil Narine.
Krunal Pandya’s all-round ability and adaptability makes him a handy pick in fantasy leagues. He might not have big scores to show but has made a difference by getting smart and quick runs in times of need. With the ball, the southpaw has bagged 9 wickets.
Despite not bowling at the death, Umesh Yadav has taken 15 wickets in this edition. Rarely has he gone without striking in the powerplay.
His bowling partner Tim Southee too has been brilliant with the new and old ball. The Kiwi seamer has picked 10 wickets in 5 appearances.
Fantasy Flops
While Marcus Stoinis has been shuffled up and down the batting order, he has only managed 90 runs in 6 games. Surprisingly, he has also bowled only thrice in the tournament.
Although Sunil Narine has been economical in this edition, he has failed to reward the fantasy players like he normally does. In 10 games, the spinner has taken only 7 wickets. With the bat too, his scores read 0, 5, 0, 6, 4, and 12.
Match Preview
With 7 wins in 10 games, Lucknow Super Giants find themselves at the No.2 position in the points table. They are also on a three-match winning streak and are currently one of the favourites to qualify for the playoffs.
On the other hand, Kolkata have been experiencing a turbulent ride this season with 6 defeats in 10 matches. Although beating Rajasthan in the previous match would have bolstered their confidence, Kolkata will need to win their remaining games to have a chance of making the final four.
Time: 7 May, 7.30 PM IST
