5 matches LSG will regret losing the most in IPL 2024
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) failed to qualify for playoffs in IPL 2024. In its third year, the franchise failed to reach the final four in the IPL for the first time having qualified for the play-offs in 2022 and 2023.
Despite winning seven matches and securing 14 points, LSG have been eliminated from the tournament. Their net run rate (-0.667) was the biggest factor leading to the elimination.
There were crunch moments in various matches during the season that LSG failed to take advantage of which led to the inevitable i.e. their elimination.
Here is a look at five matches LSG will regret losing the most in IPL 2024.
#1 LSG vs DC
The Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi during the course of IPL 2024 was a nightmare for the bowlers. Batsmen made merry on batter-friendly wickets and 200-plus totals were scored with ease during the entire season.
In a vital game for both DC and LSG on May 14, 2024, DC scored 208 runs for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs. A target of 209 was expected to be a relatively easy chase for LSG considering the nature of the wicket.
LSG, however, were in self desctuction mode and lost early wickets. While Ishant Sharma accounted for skipper KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, Axar Patel outfoxed the in-form Marcus Stoinis and had him stumped. Deepak Hooda was Ishant Sharma's third victim and LSG were reduced to 44 for the loss of four wickets.
Nicholas Pooran was the lone warrior for LSG and scored a counter attacking innings of 61 from just 27 balls before he was dismissed and the visitors were reduced to 101 for the loss of six wickets.
Arshad Khan played a valiant knock (58* from 33 balls). However, he lacked support on the other end and LSG fell short of the target by 19 runs. Had one of the top order batters applied themselves and spent more time in the middle, LSG could have won this vital game.
#2 LSG vs RR (away)
The very first game for LSG in IPL 2024 will continue to haunt them for some time. The said match was played in Jaipur and LSG were set a gettable target of 194 on a good batting wicket.
Despite losing three early wickets with just 11 runs on board, skipper KL Rahul combined with Deepak Hooda and thereafter with Nicholas Pooran to get his team into a winning position.
LSG needed just 49 runs to win from the last four overs with six wickets in hand. However, RR's bowlers pulled off a victory from the jaws of defeat and LSG fell short of the target by 20 runs. Sandeep Sharma accounted for KL Rahul in the 17th over and R. Ashwin dismissed Marcus Stoinis in the 18th over.
Had LSG won that game, they would have finished on 16 points and, in all likelihood, qualified for the playoffs.
#3 LSG vs RR (home)
After having lost to RR in Jaipur in the first match, there were chances for LSG to make amends when they hosted RR a month later on April 27. However, the result was on the same lines and LSG once again could not get over the line.
Batting first, LSG posted a decent total of 196 in 20 overs courtesy half-centuries from skipper KL Rahul and Deepak Hooda. A target of 197 in Lucknow was a challenging one for the visitors.
LSG picked up three vital RR wickets in the first nine overs (Jos Buttler, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Riyan Parag) and reduced the visitors to 78.
RR still needed 119 runs to win from 68 balls and LSG's bowlers had their tails up. However, skipper Sanju Samson combined with Dhruv Jurel and the duo guided RR to a win with an over to spare.
KL Rahul probably missed a trick or two by giving just a solitary over to his star spinner Ravi Bishnoi. Even the veteran Amit Mishra bowled just two overs despite picking up the wicket of Riyan Parag.
LSG and Rahul will surely be ruing their tactical decisions in the home game against RR.
#4 LSG vs SRH
SRH have been at their very best at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad in IPL 2024, and LSG were on the receiving end on the night of May 8.
Batting first, LSG scored a decent 165 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs on what seemed to be a challenging wicket. What followed was absolute mayhem.
SRH openers Travis Head (89* from 30 balls) and Abhishek Sharma (75* from 28 balls) thrashed LSG's bowlers all over the park and made a mockery of the target. The duo smashed 14 maximums and 16 boundaries to chase down the target in just 9.4 overs.
The fact that the target was chased down with 62 balls to spare dented LSG's net run rate to the extent that despite winning seven games, they ended up with a negative NRR.
#5 LSG vs KKR
It is always difficult for a team when they lose their home games in the IPL. LSG failed to take advantage of home conditions against KKR on May 5 and lost the home encounter by a huge margin of 98 runs.
The visitors made a mockery of the LSG bowling attack and amassed 235 runs in 20 overs.
LSG could never really get going with the bat and were bundled out for a paltry total of 137. Apart from KL Rahul and Marcus Stoinis, none of the other batters had a score over 20.
This loss and the one against SRH dented LSG's NRR to a great extent and umtimatlely led to their elimination from IPL 2024.