LSG vs KKR, IPL 2024: Records & Stats at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Third-placed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be hosting the second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 54 of the IPL 2024 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. This will be the third consecutive home match for LSG.

LSG have six wins from 10 matches while KKR have one win more from the same number of matches. In their respective latest matches, both teams defeated the same opponent, Mumbai Indians. LSG at home, and KKR away. Against MI, LSG started very well, taking as many as four wickets in the powerplay. MI's efforts to rebuild didn't go down very well, and Tim David had to push the total to 145.

Marcus Stoinis then put on an excellent batting display and LSG looked well on track to win until Stoinis was dismissed. LSG then had a mini-collapse that allowed MI to drag the chase to the last over but LSG eventually got home. MI's very next match was at the Wankhede Stadium against LSG's next opponent, KKR. MI started the first innings excellently taking five wickets even before the seven-over mark.

Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey then set on work to rebuild the innings and did a commendable job at it, until a death overs bowling flourish by MI restricted KKR to just 169. MI didn't fare any better in the chase, losing wickets at regular intervals with only Suryakumar Yadav providing a semblance of hope. But a teamwork bowling effort from Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell and Mitchell Starc helped KKR register a win against MI at the Wankhede Stadium after 12 years.

LSG will also be gunning for revenge as in the reverse fixture in Kolkata, KKR put up a good bowling performance to restrict LSG to just 162, and LSG would have made less if not for Nicholas Pooran. While the rest of KKR's batters were passive, Phil Salt took on a very aggressive outlook that let KKR chase the target down in less than 16 overs. Both teams have a foot in the door for the playoffs now. In lieu of their superior NRR compared to RR, KKR will move to the top of the points table. LSG will also be intently wanting to win as they could potentially slip to fifth on the points table depending on the result of PBKS vs CSK and if they lose this match. 

Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

Lucknow is famous for being a slow track that doesn't see many high totals. This should be the case in this match as well. This pitch will ask questions from the batters that no other surface has asked more often. The slow nature of this pitch will help the bowlers and another low-scoring thriller should be on the cards. 

IPL Stats & Records at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

With one no result, the split between matches won batting first and second is an even 6-6. The average first innings total is 160. 

LSG vs KKR Strategies & Match-ups

The strategy for this match mainly hinges on bowling performances on this bowling-friendly surface. Batting second seems to be the safest option at this ground. Both of these teams have very strong bowling attacks and will like this surface. While not necessarily a thriller, a low-scoring match is definitely on the cards. The important matchups for this game are KL Rahul vs Sunil Narine, Marcus Stoinis vs Varun Chakravarthy, Phil Salt vs Mohsin Khan, Sunil Narine vs Yash Thakur, Andre Russell vs Ravi Bishnoi.

Player Battles to Watch Out For

KL Rahul vs Sunil Narine

KL Rahul. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Against KKR's talisman, KL Rahul has scored 109 runs in 77 balls and has been dismissed twice at an average of 54.5 and a strike rate of 141.55. This battle will be important to determine the fate of both teams. 

Shreyas Iyer vs Ravi Bishnoi

Shreyas Iyer. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Ravi Bishnoi has bowled 21 balls to Shreyas Iyer who has scored 26 runs so far without being dismissed at a strike rate of 123.80. This battle mostly in the middle overs will take centre stage especially with both of their form being in hot water right now. 

X-Factors for LSG vs KKR

Lucknow Super Giants

Marcus Stoinis's last match showed that the slow surface at the Ekana Stadium does not deter his batting and that he can single-handedly win matches with enough support, especially in the form he is in with the bat, and not to forget that he can contribute with the ball. 

Kolkata Knight Riders

When he is not tearing up the bowlers, Sunil Narine has been tormenting batting lineups as well as he used to. KKR's second-highest run scorer and joint-highest wicket-taker will once again be hoping to contribute with a match-winning performance in at least one department, which will most likely be with the ball given the Ekana pitch.