Lucknow Super Giants will fly to Kolkata as they face Kolkata Knight Riders in a winner-take all contest in match number 68 of Indian Premier League 2023 at the historic Eden Garden Stadium on 20^th May 2023.

Lucknow Super Giants will be heading into the contest on the back of Marcus Stoinis’ masterclass against the Mumbai Indians in the last game. With 15 points in 13 games, they are placed at 3^rd position in the points table and their fate lies on their hands in the final league clash.

LSG now need a win to confirm their play-off spot, a loss can still make them qualify, if any of RCB and MI fail to win their last league. Kolkata Knight Riders, on the other hand, will be heading into the game on the back of a stellar away win against CSK in their last game at Chennai.

KKR with 12 points in 13 games, they are positioned seventh in the table due to negative NRR. They have a big uphill task to do, a win will certainly not make them progress to play-offs. KKR will now need a big win in such a way that they PIP RCB, MI and either of RR and PBKS by NRR would hope both MI and RCB fail to win their final game. One off MI/RCB win would see KKR’s exit, even if they win the last game.

For LSG, Marcus Stoinis tops the batting chart with 368 runs at an average of 33.45 while Kyle Mayers has amassed 361 runs at an average of 30.08. Nicholas Pooran too has scored 300 runs and has struck at 170.45. In the bowling department, Ravi Bishnoi holds the key with 14 wickets while Mark Wood has picked 11 wickets in just 4 outings. LSG would look to confirm their playoff berth with a win.

For KKR, Rinku Singh has been the go-to batter as he has so far aggregated 407 runs at a stupendous average of 50.87 in 13 games, while skipper Nitish Rana too have managed to score 405 runs. In the bowling department, Tamil Nadu sensation, Varun Chakravarthy has picked 19 wickets while Suyash Sharma has picked 10 wickets.

Both their overseas reliable players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are yet to make a big mark in the tournament and KKR would be hoping a stellar performances from both of them if at all they have to do a unthinkable of qualifying from where they are.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants Head-to-Head:

Both teams have met on two occasions, with LSG winning both the contest.

Matches Played	2
Kolkata Knight Riders	0
Lucknow Super Giants	2

IPL Stats and Records at Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Spin bowlers have thoroughly enjoyed bowling at this venue as they average 27.3 comparing to pacers who averages 31.9. Spinners have bowled at an economy of 7.5 and pacers have bowled at 8.1 economy. 50 out of 84 games have been won by teams chasing at this ground. Teams winning toss have preferred batting second at this venue.

A cracking of a contest is expected in the clash between KKR and LSG. In IPL 2023, both teams batting first and second have won three games each.

Eden Gardens	Stats
Matches Played	84
Number of wins batting first	34
Number of wins batting second	50
Average First Innings score in IPL 2023	195.7
Average powerplay Score	47.2
Average death overs score	49.2

KKR vs LSG Strategy and Match-ups:

Marcus Stoinis have picked Nitish Rana twice in 46 balls, while Rana has managed to score 68 runs. Naeen-Ul-Haq has picked Andre Russell twice in 30 balls while giving away 40 runs. Avesh Khan has good match-up against both Nitish Rana and Andre Russell.

Against Rana Avesh has picked two wickets in 23 balls and has conceded 29 runs while against Russell he has picked two wickets in 24 balls and has leaked 35 runs. The match-up would tempt Krunal Pandya to bring Avesh Khan for the last game. Andre Russell has picked Nicholas Pooran for 6 times in T20s in just 78 deliveries while Pooran has scored 122 runs against him.

Sunil Narine has dominated Quinton de Kock, picking him thrice in 51 balls, while giving away just 49 runs. Quinto de Kock has scored 100 runs against Russell in just 44 balls while Russell has picked him twice.

Highest and Lowest Totals:

KKR’s highest total against LSG is 208 while their lowest total is 101

LSG’s highest total against KKR is 210 while their lowest total is 176.

Players to Watch Out For:

Kolkata Knight Riders: Rinku Singh, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell

Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Ravi Bishnoi

KKR vs LSG Squads:

Kolkata Knight Riders:

Nitish Rana (C), Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Venkatesh Iyer, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy, Anukul Roy, Rinku Singh, Narayan Jagadeesan, Vaibhav Arora, Suyash Sharma, David Weise, Kulwant Khejrolia, Mandeep Singh, Litton Das, Jason Roy. 

Lucknow Super Giants

Krunal Pandya (c), Ayush Badoni, Karan Sharma, Manan Vohra, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Krishnappa Gowtham, Deepak Hooda, Kyle Mayers, Karun Nair, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Mark Wood, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Nicholas Pooran, Jaydev Unadkat, Yash Thakur, Romario Shepherd, Daniel Sams, Amit Mishra, Prerak Mankad, Swapnil Singh, Naveen ul Haq, Yudhvir Charak