Table-toppers Kolkata Knight Riders will face Mumbai Indians on Saturday, looking to extend their four-match winning streak. Mumbai, already eliminated from the tournament, will aim to salvage pride by winning their remaining two matches. Kolkata’s Phil Salt and Sunil Narine have excelled with the bat, while Mitchell Starc and Varun Chakravarthy have rediscovered their form with the ball. Mumbai will rely on strong performances from their batters in their penultimate match of the season.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka’s animated discussion with captain KL Rahul following their 10-wicket loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has raised concerns about the team’s batting strategy and Rahul’s future with the franchise. A leaked report from the Indian Express reveals that Goenka expressed dissatisfaction with LSG’s lack of intent, particularly in contrast to SRH’s openers, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who chased down the 166-run target in just 9.4 overs. The report also suggests that LSG’s owners are scrutinizing Rahul’s leadership and considering his future with the team. Rahul’s low strike rate of 29 off 31 deliveries and LSG’s overall conservative approach in the game have sparked discussions about the need for a more aggressive batting strategy. The heavy defeat has also raised concerns about LSG’s dwindling net run rate, which could impact their playoff chances. While Rahul has maintained his usual routine during team meetings, behind-closed-doors discussions are underway to evaluate his future with LSG, a team he has led to the playoffs in both previous seasons.
Rajasthan Royals opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has had a disappointing IPL 2024 season, struggling to find consistency with the bat. Despite scoring one century and a half-century, Jaiswal’s overall performance has been underwhelming, with an average of 32 in 11 matches. His struggles continued against Delhi Capitals, where he was dismissed for just 4. Former India opener Aakash Chopra has pointed out the flaws in Jaiswal’s batting technique, particularly his vulnerability to left-arm pacers and short deliveries.
Rajasthan suffered their second consecutive defeat on Tuesday, with Delhi Capitals securing a crucial 20-run win to keep their play-off hopes alive. Skipper Sanju Samson’s 86-run knock was not enough to carry the team across the line, as key wickets from Buttler, Parag, and Jaiswal shifted the momentum in Delhi’s favor.
