IPL 2023 match preview: Lucknow Super Giants v Gujarat Titans

Key match-ups, analysis, form, team news, weather forecast, tickets, TV and streaming information, odds, predictions and more ahead of the latest encounter in the 2023 IPL

What's the match?

Lucknow Super Giants take on Gujarat Titans in the 2023 Indian Premier League.

When is it taking place?

The match is scheduled to start at 3.30pm local time (11am BST) on Saturday, April 22.

Where is the match being played?

The match will be played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

Who's got form?

Lucknow Super Giants come into this clash off the back of a fantastic performance against the Rajasthan Royals. They went out to bat first knowing their bowling in the second innings would have to be immaculate if they were going to get anything out of this game against a big-hitting Royals side. On a slow pitch, Kyle Mayers scored his third half-century of the tournament to set the Royals 155 to win before a team bowling performance, led by Avesh Khan's 3 for 25, secured a big win.

The result moved Lucknow level on points with the Royals at the top of the table, with four wins from six matches.

Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, have won three matches from a possible five but suffered a three-wicket defeat against the Royals last time out. Inconsistency has been a theme of their season, with the Titans alternating between winning and losing for the past four matches.

Shubman Gill (228 runs) and B Sai Sudharsan (176 runs) have led the way with the bat for the defending champions while Rashid Khan and Mohammed Shami have taken 21 wickets combined.

^{Kyle Mayers [Money Sharma/Getty Images]}

What's the team news?

Quinton de Kock is still waiting for his first outing of the season for Lucknow Super Giants, with Mayers preferred at the top of the order. Yudhir Singh has also impressed with the ball and should retain his place.

Gujarat Titans have no fresh injury concern. 

What's the key matchup?

Leg-spinners have had a significant role to play in the 2023 IPL and in Ravi Bishnoi, the Super Giants have one of the best around. Conditions in Lucknow could play right into his hands. He has taken five wickets in three matches at his home ground this IPL season.

Hardik Pandya is visibly disappointed almost every time the Titans get something wrong. He looks like one of the most invested captains on the IPL circuit. He'd dearly love to put in a big contribution with bat and ball for himself and his team. 

Also, one of the biggest talking points centres around de Kock. How much longer can the Super Giants afford to keep the South African wicketkeeper-batter out of the XI? With Mayers firing with the bat and Nicholas Pooran sound behind the stumps, de Kock might have to keep waiting but his explosivity would be a boost.

Head-to-head record 

Matches played: 2

Lucknow Super Giants wins: 0

Gujarat Titans wins: 2

What's the weather forecast?

Sunny skies with some cloud coverage and temperatures as high as 37 degrees Celsius are expected in Lucknow.

^{Hardik Pandya (right) [Idranil Mukherjee/Getty Images]}

What are the squads?

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Ayush Badoni, Karan Sharma, Manan Vohra, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Krishnappa Gowtham, Deepak Hooda, Kyle Mayers, Krunal Pandya, 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

Gujarat Titans: Hardik Pandya (c), Shubman Gill, David Miller, Abhinav Manohar, Sai Sudharsan, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Rashid Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Mohammed Shami, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Pradeep Sangwan, Darshan Nalkande, Jayant Yadav, R Sai Kishore, Noor Ahmad, Kane Williamson (injured, replaced by Dasun Shanaka), Odean Smith, KS Bharat, Shivam Mavi, Urvil Patel, Josh Little, Mohit Sharma

What are the possible starting XIs?

Lucknow Super Giants: KL Rahul (c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Avesh Khan, Yudhvir Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Mark Wood

Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan , Hardik Pandya (c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Alzarri Joseph, Josh Little, Mohammed Shami

What are the odds?

The bookmakers have the Lucknow Super Giants as favourites, with odds of 6/5. Gujarat Titans are at 4/5.

Prediction?

Last season, Gujarat came away with two impressive wins against Lucknow, but this season it could be completely different. Lucknow are joint-top and flying high after beating the Royals. Super Giants win.

Where can I watch the game?

In the UK, Sky Sports have exclusive rights to this year's tournament, with matches available on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Cricket.

Fans in India can watch all the action on Star Sports.

Elsewhere in the world, viewers in Australia can watch the IPL on Fox Sports while in New Zealand, Sky Sport will provide coverage.

Willow TV and Flow Sports will broadcast the tournament in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively.

Fans in MENA can catch the action on beIN Sports while in South Africa, SuperSport have the rights.

If you are watching from the Middle East, you'll be able to view the game on Times Internet.

People from Bangladesh can watch the game on Gazi TV.