IPL 2024: Predicting 3 players who could pick up the most wickets in today's LSG vs CSK match
Thanks to the recent wins for Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC), IPL 2024 is quickly moving towards a tight finish in the second half. This has meant that every match currently is more important than usual as no team can afford to be on a losing streak, a bit like Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
On Friday, April 19, Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) would try the same at the latter's home, the Ekana Stadium. CSK have four wins from six games and would eye that second spot in the points table. LSG are coming off back-to-back defeats and would be hoping for a change of fortunes.
Below, we have predicted three bowlers who could pick the most wickets to help their respective teams get the desired results:
#3 Ravindra Jadeja
CSK's lead spinner Ravindra Jadeja finally got some form behind him in the last match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at home by picking three wickets. It was the left-arm spinner showing that he was still one of the biggest threats in the world when it comes to spin-friendly wickets in T20s.
That's what he's likely to get in Lucknow as well. In the last match here, just two spinners shared five of the 11 wickets among them. The last time Jadeja came here, was in May 2023 when he bowled a brilliant three-over spell of 1/11. LSG's middle-order isn't among the best in IPL 2024 and he could enjoy a good time against it.
#2 Ravi Bishnoi
Like Jadeja, LSG leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi started IPL 2024 slowly but has now found form again. He didn't get any wickets against KKR at the Eden in the last game but a return to home should bring back some confidence because, in the two matches before that, he picked up three wickets for just 33 runs.
CSK have some excellent players of spin in their line-up but he dismissed the best three - Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, and MS Dhoni - in a spell of 3/28, the last time he bowled against them. If LSG bowlers can support him with some early wickets, he can cause a middle-order collapse on his own.
#1 Matheesha Pathirana
CSK pacer Matheesha Pathirana has played just three matches in IPL 2024 but is still in the race to win the Purple Cap. In the last match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, he picked up 4/28 for his IPL-best spell, making it eight wickets at an average of 11 for this season.
He has only played against LSG once, in 2023 at the Ekana Stadium, and returned figures of 2/22 in it. The seamer would prove to be a handful against LSG's middle order and even more at the death where his variations would come in handy.
LSG would have to do extremely well to prevent him from picking up a bunch of wickets.