Today is the 30th match of IPL 16 series, today match will be played between Lucknow Super Giants(LSG) vs Gujarat Titans(GT) in Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Lucknow Super Giants(LSG) vs Gujarat Titans(GT), 30th Match

Anchors may no longer be cool in T20s but when you have a couple of designated ones in KL Rahul and Shubman Gill going up against each other, the conditions better be relevant for the face- off. And Lucknow has the stage set for it. Saturday’s afternoon game between the sides will be played on a used black- soil pitch, so those hoping to keep a census of the sixes may want to look nearly else.

Gujarat Titans wouldn’t mind similar conditions at this point in their crusade.They’ven’t been suitable to defend totals veritably well this season- losing two in two- and have been constantly beaten by teams out- muscling them with the big hits. This pitch and near-identical ground confines on both sides of the square in Lucknow could rather play to one of their strengths of late, i.e. keeping the dot- ball chance to a minimum. The defending champions are also coming back from a five- day break, giving them the opportunity for a new take at what is been an inconsistent crusade at best. And what better team to start against than LSG, whom they beat last year to come the first team to make it to the Play- offs.

For Lucknow Super Giants, it’s an opportunity to build on their fantastic win in Jaipur. On a slow pitch at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Kyle Mayers acclimated well to the task at hand and scored his half- century at an symptomatic strike- rate of 120. It was also the game where the season came alive for Avesh Khan, and his breakthrough performance could not have come at a better time for LSG, who play three of their coming four games at home. They wouldn’t mind remonstrating it off with their first ever victory over GT, a side they could not beat in two attempts last time.

Big picture: How will LSG use their home advantage?

Lucknow Super Giants have won two of the three games they have played at home this season. The two pitches, though, were very different. Against Delhi Capitals, it was a red-soil pitch where Mark Wood picked up a five-wicket haul with his blistering pace. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, it was a black-soil surface where the Super Giants spinners flourished. Krunal Pandya picked up three wickets and Amit Mishra claimed two. Ravi Bishnoi struck just once, but gave away just 16 runs in his four overs.

Team news: Is Wood good to go?

Mark Wood’s illness is the only fitness concern for Super Giants. Titans have no injury worries, though Hardik Pandya’s workload is always a matter of interest.

Lucknow Super Giants: While batting first, Super Giants have started with Ayush Badoni and subbed either him or Kyle Mayers out for Mishra. But when they have suffered a collapse, K Gowtham has been used as the Impact Player to shore up the batting. While bowling first, Mishra starts and Badoni comes in as the substitute when they bat.

Gujarat Titans: Titans have been happy to start with three overseas players while batting first, with one of Josh Little or Noor coming in as the Impact Player in the second innings. They have, however, stuck to starting with four overseas players while chasing, with Vijay Shankar likely to be subbed in.