LSG vs MI Preview- Eliminator

*LSG VS MI PREVIEW- ELIMINATOR*

*THE BUILD UP:*

Mumbai Indians were anxiously waiting for the result of GT vs RCB after successfully chasing down another 200 plus score in this year’s edition and by the end of the night, the good news got to them. They had qualified for yet another playoff and now LSG and GT stand in their way of completing a revenge act with Chennai. 

MI have been at their brutal best with the bat this season. It’s all come down to their batting might, that has helped them in chasing down massive totals and compensate for mediocre performances with the bowl. But with their match today, to be played at the Chepauk, the batting will need adjustments as the last time they competed here against the might of CSK, they had failed. If the bowling is managed well and stuck to plan, they could spring a surprise for LSG. 

Lucknow on the other hand, need their top order to fire. The other night saw Stoinis and Pooran light up the show once again but over-relying on them to bail the team out is a bit of a drag and to deliver a complete performance, their top 4 have to stand tall. On the bowling front, LSG are more or less sorted. They have two supremely different leg spinners coupled with a tall seam bowling left armer in Mohsin and Naveen Ul Haq, who could threaten the MI batting order on this wicket where his variations will prove to be crucial. I believe ultimately, it’s gonna come down to the face off between the bowling of LSG, which is their stronger suit vs the batting might of MI, which has dominated the tourney throughout. The last time these two sides clashed, David and Green were unable to chase down 11 off 6 where the heroics of Mohsin diverted all the attention towards him. MI have a golden opportunity to avenge that loss today. 

*MI PROBABLE XI:*

Rohit Sharma(c), Ishan Kishan(wk), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Chris Jordan, Piyush Chawla, Hrithik Shokeen, Akash Madhwal

Suryakumar's T20 career strike rate is over 150. But it drops down to 127 at Chepauk. A stern batting test waits Surya who displays of a mediocre record at Chepauk and life is not going to be any easier for him with Krunal waiting to hunt him down as the Mumbaikar has struggled vs left arm spin in the past not just in the IPL but also internationals. Right when SKY walks out to bat, we may see Krunal taking the bowl and attacking right away. Another test for Surya will be to display his credentials away from Wankhede. This season has shown how Surya has become dependent on the home ground of MI to churn out the big runs whereas, he has failed to turn up in away games. 

Since the Eliminator is likely to be played on the same pitch where CSK outplayed MI in a low scoring encounter, MI should be vary of the trio of Mishra-Bishnoi-Krunal. If the pitch is offering more turn, then we can see LSG unleash Gowtham as well to limit the free flowing run scoring from the MI batters and restrict them to a low score. With conditions expected to be hugely different from what Wankhede offers, LSG could be at an advantage heading into this fixture and kicking MI out. 

For Rohit Sharma the Chepauk stadium has not been happy hunting ground during IPL playoff matches.His record in Chennai has been poor. In two playoff matches that he has played in Chennai, the right handed batter has score 17 runs in total in two playoff matches. Rohit Sharma’s overall IPL playoff record aren’t encouraging one either. In 19 innings so far, the MI skipper has scored only 297 runs at an average of 16.50 and a poor strike rate of 108.79. Coming to Chepauk this time around, Rohit Sharma’s confidence will be sky high having scored a half century in the previous match against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede. 

*IMPACT PLAYER STRATEGY:*

Jason Behrendroff to join the XI as the impact substitute if MI bowl second. A similar role could be played or adorned by Tilak Verma if they are chasing a target. 

*LSG PROBABLE XI:*

Kyle Mayers, Quinton DeKock(c), Prerak Mankad, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya(c), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, K Gowtham, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur    

Quinton Dekock joined the XI late this season, having had to warm the bench in the first half of the IPL. Ever since he has come, the southpaw has scored 143 runs at an average of 35.75 at a strike rate of 140.2 but his record vs Chris Jordan, who’s one of the pacers of MI hasn’t been of great value. He has shown tendency of struggling against leg spinners as well and Piyush Chawla, who has enjoyed a sensational comeback this year, could be used upfront to send QDK packing. LSG would like some runs from the Protea wicket keeper specially at this juncture of the tournament when they are in search of sone vital top order runs. 

LSG are on a winning streak of 3 games and haven’t lost a single game against Mumbai in the IPL, they are strong on paper and have the backing of form as well, the Krunal-Gambhir duo have their task cut out. Proper utilisation of resources and maintaining the left-right combination will go along way if LSG are to overcome this Eliminator hurdle where they failed to dominate the last time around versus RCB.

The Bishnoi vs Kishan is another battle I will be keeping an eye on because of the tendency of the left handed keeper to struggle against what the leggie offers. I wouldn’t be surprised if Krunal decides to choke MI with spin and this is where the toss could prove to be crucial. 

MI, who have been chasing well throughout would like to bat first if the surface is even a little bit similar to what it was during GT vs CSK. Their strength could very well prove to be their nemesis on a ground like the Chepauk. 

*IMPACT PLAYER STRATEGY:*

Karan Sharma could come in as the impact sub when LSG bat but if they are defending, the entry of Yash Thakur/Mohsin Khan would be vital. 

*MY PREDICTIONS FOR THE GAME:*

*FOR MI:*
Highest run getter- Tilak Verma/Cameron Green 

Highest wicket taker- Piyush Chawla/Akash Madhwal 

*FOR LSG:*
Highest run getter- Krunal Pandya/Nicholas Pooran 

Highest wicket taker- Naveen Ul Haq/Ravi Bishnoi 

*FOR THIS GAME:*
LSG to win