IPL 2022 LSG vs DC Preview

Key match stats LSG vs DC

Pitch Stats – DY Patil Stadium

Average first innings score: 151
Average first innings winning score: 168
Average powerplay score: 43
All-time win % batting 1st vs batting 2nd: 40% / 60%

Team form LSG vs DC
LSG – LWW
DC – WL
Recent meetings: n/a

LSG vs DC Preview

New boys Lucknow Super Giants can be very happy with their comeback following defeat in their opening game of the tournament.

They recovered well from a poor start against Sunrisers last time out to post a decent total thanks to a partnership from captain KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda. Equally their death bowling, something that we'd highlighted as being a potential problem earlier in the tournament has been improved with the introduction of AJ Tye.

At the same time, you'd have to say that both CSK and SRH have somewhat let them off the hook in those 2 victories and that in Delhi they are likely to come across opposition that are a little more ruthless.

DC's primary issue at the moment is at the top of their order where they are certainly missing the calming presence of Shikhar Dhawan whose consistency during his time with the Capitals helped them lay the foundation for plenty of success.

David Warner and Mitchell Marsh have arrived in Mumbai in order to complete their quarantine and could be available for matches from this weekend. Fellow Aussie and DC coach Ricky Ponting will be hoping that 2 of his high profile buys in the auction are able to make an instant impact in this year's IPL.

LSG vs DC head to head

DC bowling vs LSG batting

We've mentioned the current problems that DC are having with the bat at the top of their innings but I'm not sure they really have a great formula with the ball in the powerplay either.

Shardul Thakur and Mustafizur Rahman shared the new ball in the defeat against Gujarat last time out and while Thakur in particular can get some early movement, his role at both international and franchise level in the past has generally been to take wickets through middle and death over periods. Similarly, for the Fizz, his variations are better suited to outside the powerplay.

Thakur and The Fizz combined T20 records vs de Kock and KL Rahul

Given how well Khaleel Ahmed bowled in the first game, I was surprised that he didn't get first chance with the new ball especially given the movement that has been on offer in the early stages of most matches of IPL 2022. As the stats above show, neither Thakur or The Fizz have great head to head records against the LSG openers so DC may need to rethink their strategy in the powerplay.

One man that Mustafizur does have a good record against is Evin Lewis and in general DC will feel that they have both the spin options and the change-up bowlers to keep the West Indian quiet in this fixture.

Mustafizur vs Lewis T20 head to head

One of the key match ups in this game will come between Axar Patel and the LSG batsmen. Axar has so far struggled with figures of 0-77 from his 8 overs but has the wood over a couple of the right handers in the LSG top order as shown below.

Axar vs KL Rahul and Manish Pandey

In contrast, his figures against Quinton de Kock aren't so good (ave 75, S/R 159.6) and he's yet to dismiss Krunal Pandya in previous T20 encounters. Expect, LSG to be fairly fluid with their middle order to ensure that Axar doesn't get the opportunity to bowl at 2 right-handers at anyone time.

DC batting vs LSG bowling

We've noted above DC's problem with the bat at the top of the order. Anyone who has ever watched a T20 match will no doubt have heard the commentators trot out the well known and not really surprising stat that teams who lose 3 wickets in the powerplay are less likely to win the game - DC have lost 3 wickets in both powerplays so far...

Bowler	Franchise	Powerplay Wickets
DL Chahar	CSK	10
Arshdeep Singh	PBKS	8
Avesh Khan	DC	6

leading wicket takers in the powerplay during IPL 2021

Of course this match will see Avesh Khan play against a side that he had great success at last year taking 6 wickets in the powerplay. He managed 2 more in this year's tournament against SRH and will be keen to add to that today agains this frail looking DC side.

Krunal Pandya T20 head to head vs Rishabh Pant

If previous encounters are anything to go by then DC Captain Rishabh Pant will be targeting the overs of left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya to attack but as their T20 head to head shows, it's been very much a case of live by the sword, die by the sword for Pant who has scored freely while giving his wicket away.

All stats used in this blog are from my own database. Images are my own with the exception of player profiles and background images from the below sources and used under a creative commons license or otherwise royalty free

https://www.iplt20.com/
https://pixabay.com/images/search/cricket%20stadium/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en