Royal Challengers Bengaluru will be keen to maintain its perfect away record in the Indian Premier League this season – six wins out of six so far – and seal playoffs qualification when it meets Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Friday.
With 16 points from 11 games, RCB’s top-four hopes are not under serious threat. But the assurance of a spot with two matches remaining – both of which are at home – will give Rajat Patidar’s men the necessary lift to go guns blazing for a top-two finish.
But the absence of No. 3 batter Devdutt Padikkal because of a hamstring injury will hurt. The setback couldn’t have come at a worse time, for fiery batter Phil Salt has missed the last two fixtures because of an illness and premier pacer Josh Hazlewood sat out of the win against Chennai Super Kings with shoulder trouble.
Yet, Virat Kohli’s form, young opener Jacob Bethell’s enterprise and a well-rounded bowling attack make RCB strong. Romario Shepherd’s mindboggling batting against CSK last Saturday is sure to induce fear in opponents.
For Rishabh Pant’s LSG, this is a do-or-die clash. It has just 10 points from 11 games and has lost three on the trot leading in to this contest.
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Even as middle-order bat Ayush Badoni has impressed, the recent struggles of Nicholas Pooran and skipper Pant’s lack of form have held LSG back.
Of late, the LSG’s bowling has come undone too as Delhi Capitals chased 159 with eight wickets left, and Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings raked up 215 and 236 respectively. One more middling performance will guarantee elimination.