KL Rahul returns to the Ekana Cricket Stadium but not as the Lucknow Super Giants captain anymore, but as a rival player. After leading the franchise for three years since its inception in 2022, Rahul faces his old franchise for the first time in IPL. Delhi Capitals come into this game on the back of a loss to Gujarat Titans away from home, while LSG managed a narrow escape against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur.
What way to finish the things off. KL Rahul slams a six and takes DC home pretty comfortably.
Rahul is nearing 50. DC are getting close and are set to clicnh this
A huge appeal by Rishabh Pant and Digvesh for an LBW. The umpire ruled it not-out before LSG took a review. But it remains not out as the impact is way outside off.
Karun Nair is bowled. Markram, the part-timer, gets a wicket and its the big one. KL Rahul is now in.
Abhishek Porel and Karun Nair are out in the middle. Shardul Thakur has the new ball in his hand. Off we go.
LSG end at 159/6. Rishabh Pant came in to bat in the final over. LSG lost their way in the middle and have not many on the board.
Samad and Marsh are gone too. Mukesh Kumar strikes twice in the same over to get Samad and then the well-set Marsh.
Dushmantha Chameera picked up the prized wicket of Aiden Markram, who departed after scoring 52 runs off 33 balls. LSG are 87/1 after 10 overs.
The powerplay is done. This is a shared phase for both the teams. LSG are at 51/0 after 6. The batters have taken on the pacers but Axar is doing a fine job
This has been a well-measured start by the LSG batters. Not trying too much as they are looking to set their eyes in.
Lucknow Super Giants openers - Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh - are out in the middle. It is Axar Patel who will start the bowling today. Two-right handers and a left-arm finger spinner in. Off we go
Lucknow Super Giants Impact Subs: Ayush Badoni, Mayank Yadav, Shahbaz Ahmed, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh
Delhi Capitals Impact Subs: Delhi Capitals Impact Subs: Jake Fraser McGurk, Sameer Rizvi, Donovan Ferreira, Madhav Tiwari, Tripurana Vijay
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Abdul Samad, David Miller, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav
Delhi Capitals (Playing XI): Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul(w), Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Mukesh Kumar
Definitely (would have bowled first). The way this wicket is playing, it stops a bit in the first innings and as the game goes on, it gets better and better. Hand is okay. Not losing too many early wickets is the key. We don't think about what's happening around us. We are playing with the same team.
We'll bowl. Red soil wicket and there was dew in the last game as well. We focussed on what we did right and improve areas where we erred. We aren't thinking too much. Impact Player - we decide based on the situation. Mohit Sharma is out, Chameera is playing.
Axar Patel has won the toss and he has decided that DC will be bowling first.
The major subplot of this clash is the face-off between KL Rahul and his former franchise, LSG. He led the Lucknow-based team in all the three seasons since its inception in 2022 and steps onto the field for the first time as a rival now.
It's Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals in the 40th match of the Indian Premier League at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. DC are coming off a defeat in his team's last match against GT, while LSG defeated RR by a very small margin. Stay tuned for this game.
