The fans of Twenty20 cricket know that anchors no longer play a significant role in the modern-day cricket format. [expander_maker id=”1″ ] In this format, runs are scored quickly, and boundaries and sixes are expected rather than an individual player playing the anchor role.

However, when two designated anchors like KL Rahul and Shubman Gill go against each other, the game becomes exciting for fans, and they expect an exciting face-off. The match scheduled for Saturday is between the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) and will be played in Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The black-soil wicket, the identical ground dimensions on both sides of the square, and the players’ playing style will set up a game of attrition with a focus on dot ball percentage.

GT has an inconsistent season thus far and is coming back from a five-day break. A victory against LSG is a must to help them climb up the points table rankings. Gujarat Titans had beaten LSG the last time they played, securing a place in the playoffs. This victory helped them become the first team to do in last year’s IPL. Gujarat Titans have been outplayed by their opponents who have out-muscled them through their big hitting. However, playing on the pitch in Lucknow and keeping the dot-ball percentage to a minimum may play to their strengths. GT hopes to continue their winning streak against LSG, but a lot depends on the fielding and bowling attack.

LSG, on the other hand, wishes to build on their last win in Jaipur. The slow pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium did not deter Kyle Mayers from scoring his half-century, and his innings highlighted his ability to adapt to various play conditions. Avesh Khan’s breakthrough performance earned LSG their first win, and they hope to continue this momentum in the upcoming match. Furthermore, LSG will be playing three of their next four games at home, and nothing would be better than starting with a win against GT, a side they couldn’t beat last year.

The match is being played on pitch #6 on the square and will bring with it a new set of dynamics. The first three IPL games played on this pitch saw scores of 193 playing 143, 121 playing 127, and 159 playing 161, and hence it is yet to be seen what scores will appear in this game. The square is very dry, and the curators are trying their best to make the most of this season before looking into long-term solutions. The temperatures have come down lately in Lucknow, but an afternoon game would still be challenging for the players.

LSG and GT have drawn upon their strengths and weaknesses to build their strategies and match-ups. LSG is likely to field KL Rahul, Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Naveen-ul-Haq, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Ravi Bishnoi, and Kyle Mayers. Kyle Mayers’s ability to strike against left-arm pacers and tee off against Joshua Little will be vital. Conversely, GT will have Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma/Noor Ahmad (Impact Player), and either Vijay Shankar or Abhinav Manohar. Rashid Khan, the leg-spinner from Afghanistan, will bowl in the power play to Rahul, who he has dismissed thrice already.

LSG’s Avesh Khan has enjoyed success against Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, getting both the batters out twice. LSG had lost against GT in their previous encounter, where they were bowled out for 82 inside 14 overs. KL Rahul vs Mohammed Shami in the IPL stats shows 18 balls, 13 runs, and two dismissals.

Rahul Tewatia, while focusing on playing for India, said, “I am focused on IPL since that’s what’s going on at the moment. Everybody wants to play for India but it’s always better to stay in the present, focus on the tournament and the game at hand. Even in the IPL, I don’t plan for the next game.” Morne Morkel backed his teammate, Hardik Pandya, commenting, “If you look at IPL, you don’t want eleven guys to perform at the same time. He’s one of our big match players, he’s our senior batter, and he’s going to come good. Seven-eight games to go, and these guys with experience of playing in the IPL will catch up.”

In an exciting contest between two sides with different strengths and weaknesses, LSG aims to create history by beating GT for the first time in IPL history.[/expander_maker]