Lucknow Super Giants v Rajasthan Royals IPL Tips: Surface may be a leveller

Click here for Lucknow Super Giants v Rajasthan Royals odds
Wednesday 22 April,15:00
TV: Sky Sports

Lucknow Super Giants v Rajasthan Royals IPL team news

Lucknow Super Giants have lost three in a row and the alarm bells are ringing. Their constant changing to the batting order suggests there is a management team in place which doesn't know how best to use resources. Nic Pooran's poor form could well be a symptom.

Pooran, who should be an automatic choice at first drop and given the assurance to just go out and hit, can now barely get if off the square. Ayush Badoni opened last time out against Punjab with Aiden Markram demoted to the middle order.

Their best spin bowler, Digvesh Rathi, was not selected, either. And only three overseas were named. Picking your best players, in the right positions is all that is required. Josh Inglis' arrival has been delayed until May 4.

Possible XI: Marsh, Markram, Badoni, Pant, Pooran, Choudhary, Hinmat (Mohsin), Avesh, Shami, Prince, Siddharth

Rajasthan Royals are exuberant and aggressive in everything they do. The big test comes now whether they can keep on crossing the white line and leaving it all out there. Do they trust themselves to do it after horrible losses against Sunrisers and Kolkata?

Their batting failed badly in both outings. It is not the first time in recent tournaments that Royals have started a season well only for the batters to let them down. The difference this year should be greater depth. Those collapses could be seen coming a mile off.

Now is the time for the likes of Shimron Hetmyer to put their hand up and take responsibility. Raj Punja is an interesting and attacking bowler sub to watch out for with his legreak googlies.

Possible XI: Jaiswal, Sooryavanshi (sub Raj Punja), Jurel, Parag, hetmyer, Ferreira, Jadeja, Archer Bishnoi, Brijesh, Burger

Lucknow Super Giants v Rajasthan Royals IPL pitch report

As a venue Lucknow is not expected to be full of runs. Scores of 141 and 164 in the two matches so far are not surprising. Sportsbook offer under 188.5 first-innings runs at 5/61.84. In the last 17 night matches, that has won ten times.

The quote may be artificailly high because of the Royals' aggression with the bat. Fair enough. But the gamble here would focus on whether the pitch is conducive to the likes of Yas Jaiswal being able to swing through the line with abandon. One suspects the risk is worth it.

Lucknow Super Giants v Rajasthan Royals match prediction

Lucknow Super Giants are big outsiders at 2.407/5 with Royals no better than 1.705/7. The gulf in ability and, at the moment, organisation appears to be justified.

Indeed, those with vouchers on Kolkata Knight Riders to finish bottom may well be right to feel nervous watching the LSG slide. However, the Lucknow surface could be just the leveller the home team needs.

At the odds Lucknow are worth a gamble to cause an upset. The wicket could be kryptonite to Royals' big hitters. Bowling pace-off and variation should be crucial for Lucknow to tie down Royals. They have to be denied pace on the ball. They crave it.

All that is required is for coach Justin Langer to recognise this. Pick Rathi. Pick George Linde. There is no accounting for common sense, of course, but if we can see it...

Lucknow Super Giants v Rajasthan Royals IPL player bets

As previously stated, it is time Shimron Hetmyer came to the party. The surface might not trouble him as much as others. In the past he has been able to muscle the ball to the boundary on such tracks. Indeed, the Caribbean is choc-full of such wickets. Hetmyer to deliver a top-bat win at 6/17.00 is a wager. Don't be surprised if he has to launch a rescue mission, batting sensibly, before a late onslaught wins it.

Bookmark Betting.Betfair for cricket tips on all the big games and tournaments