Lucknow Super Giants finds itself in an undesirable position even before the beginning of its Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign against Delhi Capitals at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, here on Monday.
It has lost four of its frontline Indian pacers – Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, and Mohsin Khan – to injuries.
While there’s still hope for the first three to join the team later in the tournament, Mohsin has been ruled out and replaced by India all-rounder Shardul Thakur.
“Unfortunately, Mohsin I think sustained a small calf injury in his rehab (from his knee injury). So, knowing that we had four guys out, we had to make that tough call on Mohsin (ruled out for the season). We think Avesh Khan (knee injury) will pass his right to play tomorrow morning through the NCA,” Super Giants’ head coach Justin Langer said.
“So, if that’s the case, then he’ll be back sooner rather than later. Akash Deep (back injury) is up and running, and bowling at about 90 per cent now. I believe he’s done his Yo-Yo test. So, he’s really ticking off all the boxes.”
India all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who played for Chennai Super Kings last season, had gone unsold in the auction for this season. However, with Mohsin Khan, out, he joined Lucknow Super Giants as the replacement.
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R. Parthibhan/AP
India all-rounder Shardul Thakur, who played for Chennai Super Kings last season, had gone unsold in the auction for this season. However, with Mohsin Khan, out, he joined Lucknow Super Giants as the replacement.
| Photo Credit:
R. Parthibhan/AP
“And then, Mayank, who everyone was very excited about last year. He was going quite well (recovering from his back injury), and he kicked his toe on the bed. He got an infection in his toe. It’s put his rehab back about a week or two weeks,” Langer added.
But he’s up and running. We regularly see videos of him bowling. I saw a video of his yesterday (Saturday). So, hopefully by the back end of the tournament, Mayank will be up and ready to go for us.”
Meanwhile, Langer on Sunday expressed his excitement for the 27-year-old Uttar Pradesh pacer Prince Yadav and contended that the team has a good spin contingent, led by M. Siddharth.
But whatever bowling unit the team fields on Monday, it will face a stiff challenge against the Capitals batters.
Capitals’ opener Jake Fraser-McGurk, who was hitting sixes against spinners at practice on Sunday, has to be defused as early as possible. K.L. Rahul, who wasn’t at practice on the eve of the match, is unlikely to play. Faf du Plessis might open with Fraser-McGurk.
“Obviously, he joined the team and we all know that he has a personal problem (Rahul and his wife are expecting their first child). We don’t know yet (if he’ll play). We don’t know if he’s available or not,” DC skipper Axar Patel said.
Lucknow Super Giants’ skipper in IPL 2024, K. L. Rahul, could start against his former side on Monday but there remains no certainty on him making it to the matchday squad.
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Sandeep Saxena/The Hindu
Lucknow Super Giants’ skipper in IPL 2024, K. L. Rahul, could start against his former side on Monday but there remains no certainty on him making it to the matchday squad.
| Photo Credit:
Sandeep Saxena/The Hindu
For the Giants, Langer hinted that Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram are to open. A lot would depend on how its strong middle-order – which boasts of Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, and David Miller – fairs against Capitals’ left-arm tweakers Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav.
Preparing for it, Nicholas Pooran was seen facing three left-arm spinners at the nets on Sunday.
The Capitals seem to be a relatively well-rounded and stronger team on paper, especially with pacers Mitchell Starc, Mohit Sharma, and T. Natarajan in their ranks.