IPL 2023: Eliminator preview - Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians

Following what was an inauspicious start, Mumbai Indians have found their way into the Indian Premier League playoffs once more. 

After being without star bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who withdrew through injury, and fellow high-quality pacer Jofra Archer not being at 100% throughout the league stage and ultimately leaving the squad, Mumbai have been able to call upon what is a considerable batting lineup. 

A number of stunning batting displays have helped them get to fourth in the table, whether they have been set up at the top of the innings, built through the middle overs or sensationally delivered at the death.

Super Giants, meanwhile, kept up their 100% qualification rate as they compete in the playoffs for the second consecutive season. They also suffered a loss of their own in terms of star personnel when captain KL Rahul pulled up injured midway through the tournament. While he was not having the best of times in general, his presence and quality have surely been, and will continue to be, missed.

LSG captain KL Rahul's untimely injury did not stop Lucknow from progressing, but his quality and presence has been a miss, despite his poor form [CREDIT: IPLT20]

Each team have strong batting lineups, but Super Giants have faltered slightly in recent matches with the poor form of Deepak Hooda and absence of Rahul removing two key pieces from 2022. The return of Mohsin Khan to the LSG attack is a welcome one and he played a key role in their win over Mumbai last week.

Again, like the matchup in the Qualifier 1 between Gujarat Titans and Chennai Super Kings, there are patterns going into the game. In three previous meetings, Super Giants hold a 3-0 record against Mumbai and have claimed all victories by batting first.

This season, Mumbai have generally done well chasing. Their strong batting lineup has seen them rescue below-par bowling performances to win games from precarious positions. 

Who have been the key performers for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023?

No LSG batter has passed 400 runs yet this season, but the overseas trio of Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran and Marcus Stoinis have all passed 350. Pooran has played some incredible innings, including a 15-ball fifty. Mayers started brilliantly, scoring quickly and aggressively at the top, keeping Quinton de Kock out of the side in the process. 

Nicholas Pooran has proven to be an excellent acquisition for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2023, playing a number of brilliant innings, namely the 15-ball fifty he struck against RCB [CREDIT: IPLT20]

The spin trio of Krunal Pandya, Amit Mishra and Ravi Bishnoi have bowled well in the spin-friendly conditions at home with all three going at fewer than eight runs an over, with the latter leading the LSG wicket-taking list with 16. 

Mark Wood provided an excellent option for Lucknow early on in the tournament, taking 11 wickets in just four matches before flying back to England for the birth of his second child. Instead, Afghanistan international Naveen ul-Haq has often done a solid job in his place.

Who have been the key performers for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023?

The batting has been the key to many of Mumbai’s victories this season, with the brilliant Suryakumar Yadav often leading the way. He scored his maiden IPL hundred among the 511 runs that he has scored. Ishan Kishan has also found some consistency, breaching the 400-run mark at a strike rate of 143.5. 

Suryakumar Yadav has been the star for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023, producing numerous scintillating performances topped off by his maiden IPL hundred against Gujarat Titans [CREDIT: IPLT20]

Tilak Varma also followed on from his superb debut season before he was ruled out of the last five matches through injury. In his place, fellow uncapped left-hander Nehal Wadhera has shown glimpses of strong potential. Australian internationals Cam Green and Tim David have also come up trumps with the bat, with the former striking a wonderful century in Mumbai’s final league game. 

The bowling hasn’t been quite as impressive, largely down to the aforementioned lack of Bumrah and Archer. One bright spot, though, has been the re-emergence of Piyush Chawla. A veteran IPL leg-spinner, the 34-year-old has taken 20 wickets so far this season which is in turn his best return in his IPL career. 

Jason Behrendorff has provided solid backup with 14 wickets, while Akash Madhwal looks like he could be a good find having produced some quality overs at the death.

What happened in the previous IPL 2023 match between Lucknow Super Giants and Mumbai Indians?

Again, such is the nature of the current IPL format, Lucknow and Mumbai only played one match against each other in the league stage. The match took place only last week, with home side Lucknow coming out on top in a narrow win.

It was Rohit and Mumbai who won the toss and the Super Giants were put in to bat. Things did not go all too well initially and they were 35-2 after the powerplay, The very next ball, Quinton de Kock perished and it seemed as though Mumbai had a strong hold on the game. 

Krunal and Stoinis set about rebuilding the innings and put on 82 before Krunal retired hurt on 49. Stoinis had reached his fifty in 36 balls, before accelerating at huge pace. He ended on 89 off just 47 balls, with four fours and eight sixes as LSG got to 177-3. 

Marcus Stoinis provided a stunning match-winning innings for Lucknow Super Giants in the first meeting with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023 [CREDIT: IPLT20]

Mumbai got off to a quick start with Rohit and Ishan striking multiple boundaries inside the powerplay as they reached 58-0 after the first six. Just before the halfway point, Rohit was dismissed for 37 off 25 via the bowling of the impressive Bishnoi (4-0-26-2). 

Kishan followed shortly after for 59 off 39, before the big wicket of Suryakumar off the first ball of the 15th swung the momentum back in LSG’s favour. Wadhera had struggled to get his innings going and, with 47 needed in 24 deliveries, he was dismissed for just 16 from 20. 

David was striking well and 19 came off the penultimate over to leave just 11 required from the last with both David and Green at the crease. However, a superb final over from Mohsin saw LSG secure a tight five-run win to put them a strong position to qualify.