Lucknow Super Giants v Delhi Capitals IPL Tips: LSG batting power means easy sixes win

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Wednesday 1 April,15:00
TV: Sky Sports

Lucknow Super Giants v Delhi Capitals IPL team news

Lucknow Super Giants make no secret about their appraoch in IPL. They are a blitzing batting team and if they don't outscore the opposition so be it. A front three of Aiden Markram, Mitch Marsh and Nic Pooran is unashamedly attacking. They will hope for middle-order carnage from Rishabh Pant, too.

They have attempted to reinforce bowling stocks but an injury to Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lanka spinner, looks likely to deny them his services for the first few matches at least. Digvesh Rathi will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders to do the spin work. Anrich Nortje could take Hasaranga's spot.

Mayank Yadav, the pacer, could slot in for Abdul Samad as the bowling sub if LSG bat first. And vice versa bowling first. 

Possible XI: Markram, Marsh, Pooran, Badoni, Pant, Samad (sub Mayank Yadav), Shahbaz, Shami, Avesh, Rathi, Nortje

Delhi Capitals hare the complete opposite of LSG. They're a bowling team, prizing economy and preferring the more studious batting approach led by the reliable, but hardly rapid, KL Rahul at the top of the order.

They have been hampered by injuries and withdrawls. Mitchell Starc is not available and there is no clarity on when the Aussie pacer will be around. Lungi Ngidi has a chance to nail a starting berth. Ben Duckett has pulled out meaning Pathum Nissanka automatically becomes Rahul's opening partner pick barring a failure of common sense in the DC brains' trust.

In Vipraj Nigam, Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel they have 12 overs of spin, potentially being able to tie teams down. T Natarajan must rediscover past glories from his Sunrisers days. 

Possible XI: Rahul, Nissanka, Porel, Axar, Stubbs, Miller, Ashutosh, Vipraj, Kuldeep, Ngidi, Natarajan (Rizvi sub)

Lucknow Super Giants v Delhi Capitals IPL pitch report

Lucknow has been in the bottom echelon for run rates in the IPL but that doesn't mean we load up on unders. The run rate in night games is still healthy at 8.94 (7.8 in all T20 matches and conditions).

Last season in seven night matches more than 190 was busted four times. Two of those saw both teams hit 200. In 2024, 190 or more busted in three from seven. Given LSG's batting strength it could well be that their match runs for the match at overs 181.5 is cheap at 5/61.84. Their leaky bowling is kept on side if they have to chase. Both teams for 200 is 9/25.50.

Lucknow Super Giants v Delhi Capitals match prediction

Lucknow are 1.9010/11 with Delhi 2.0811/10. The market is struggling to split the pair probably because of the contrasting styles. Does a good batting unit more often beat a good bowling one?

We would often prize bowling economy over bat muscle but Delhi's striking could be ponderous. They may recognise too late that they have failed to move with the times. Getting up past 200 is an absolute must and they don't seem equipped for that.

There is a toss bias under lights at the venue. In the 19 IPL matches there is a 58% swing to the chaser. If LSG bat second they look likely to be value as we don't expect a massive change in odds post toss.

The strongest play, however, is 5/61.84 LSG most sixes. They should be shorter jollies given the power and the data from last season behind them. It should be a relatively simple win with the metrics clearly showing they hit more. And their batters individually hit more in terms of sixes per balls faced. 

Lucknow Super Giants v Delhi Capitals IPL player bets

Nic Pooran is the top-rated batter on show in terms of how often he wins the highest team runscorer market. Sportsbook offer 10/34.33 that he outscores his team-mates. The two-year numbers show he returns at 33%. Sportsbook rate him at 23%. That's a fair chunk in our favour. Crucially, Pooran is a renowned spin hitter meaning he should be unperturbed by that Delhi bowling strength. 

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