IPL 2024: Lucknow Super Giants and their Amazing Art of Defending Totals

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Lucknow is known for its rich historical importance. From Delhi Sultanate days in the early 13th century to the Mughals, the name of Lucknow has always been associated with weightage.

The Imambaras, Rumi Darwaza and the delicacies of Awadhi Biryani - the city is rich in history, art and delicacies. But a new piece of art is recently taking over and representing the city, which is the art of defending totals.

Lucknow Super Giants is the team which represents the city in the Indian Premier League since 2022. Although they are new to IPL, the Super Giants are already making a name for themselves for a unique matter, which is defending totals.

In modern-day cricket, where the batters are equipped with enormous weapons and the fields are small, with the rules almost being biased for the batters, Lucknow Super Giants have been defending their totals with ease. Since 2022, they have been amazing in defending the totals and even in this year, that has continued. LSG have won three matches this season, all of which have come defending totals.

Whenever they score more than 160 runs in batting first, they generally win the match. At least that has been the case in the last 13 matches.

LSG wins in IPL 2024

Lucknow won their first match against Punjab Kings, then they beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In their latest match, LSG overcame the Gujarat Titans challenge. In all of these three matches, LSG have defended decreasing totals in each match - 199, 181 and 163 respectively.

It has become a ritual for the team to put a score on the board and successfully execute a bowling performance where the chasing team fails to chase the target. And if we take a deeper look, we will witness that they have been grinding out results across all conditions.

They defended 181 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium earlier this season. In 2023, Lucknow won defending 154 in Jaipur against a star-studded Rajasthan Royals. In 18 matches, where LSG have batted first, they have secured fifteen victories.

Lucknow Super Giants: Why LSG defend their Totals?

Lucknow Super Giants have been making a habit of defending totals and there is a tripartite factor to it.

The Pitch

The Ekana Stadium has possessed a slow and low pitch over the last year or so. LSG have an excellent bowling unit, and they defended the low and slow deck at their home stadium. The pitch had a huge say in their performance last season, and their bowlers utilized it pretty well.

The Bowling Prowess

LSG have had a superb set of bowlers since 2023 and that has served them brilliantly. Naveen-ul-Haq, Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan shone for them last season. In this one, Mayank Yadav has been the biggest found in the IPL. The young pacer has bowled with pace and has showcased his mettle in the big platform. They also have shown the ability to grind out results from nowhere. The spin unit comprised of Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya were amazing against Gujarat Titans, while Mayank Yadav turned the match around out of nowhere against Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Yash Thakur also picked up a five-for against GT and showcased his talent.

The young and Indian pace battery makes LSG incredibly promising in the coming matches as they look to build on the future this season and beyond.

The Mentality

Behind all the skills and class, you have to have a strong mentality and the Lucknow Super Giants bowlers and their captain have shown it. KL Rahul has marshalled his troops brilliantly and has kept faith in his bowlers, even in adverse situations. The bowlers have also stuck with the plan and executed it on the ground under pressure and the combination of that has yielded them good results.