After their disappointing loss to RCB on Monday, Lucknow Super Giants will look for a quick response when they face off against MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in Match 45 of the Indian Premier League 2023 season on Wednesday. 

The LSG vs CSK afternoon face off is scheduled to start at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Wednesday, May 3, at 3:30 PM IST.

As things stand, both LSG and CSK are on 10 points from nine matches but the Lucknow team is placed third on the IPL 2023 table, one spot above CSK, based on net run rate. With the season approaching its business end, the fixture is a must-win for both teams to strengthen their claim for a playoff spot.

Super Giants to watch out for

The focus will be on the team’s top order to deliver. The onus will be on the likes of Kyle Mayers, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda to give LSG a good start to set up a launchpad for big hitters like Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran to go all out in the death overs.

On Ekana’s slow surface, the spinners have proven to be the difference makers time and again and LSG’s spin duo of Ravi Bishnoi and Amit Mishra will be responsible for putting the pressure on the CSK batters in the middle overs. Bishnoi is LSG’s highest wicket-taker this season with 12 wickets from nine games.

Chennai’s lynchpins

Even besides the evergreen MS Dhoni, the CSK squad is filled with experience and quality. CSK openers Devon Conway and Ruturaj Gaikwad have combined for over 750 runs this season and separating the pair early will be key to LSG’s success in the upcoming match.

CSK’s Tushar Deshpande, meanwhile, is IPL 2023’s top wicket taker with 17 wickets to his name.

LSG vs CSK head-to-head

The two teams have only faced off twice in the IPL and each have one victory to their name.

Last season, LSG rode a Quinton de Kock half-century to a six-wicket victory while CSK came up trumps by 12 runs in a high-scoring affair at Chepauk earlier this season.

Match details

Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings, Match 45

Venue: BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow 

Time: 3:30 PM