IPL 2024 SWOT Analysis: Can Lucknow Supergiants make it beyond the playoffs? | cricket news

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are one of the youngest teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), now two seasons into the cash-rich league. As they enter their third season, LSG fans will be hoping for championship glory after making the playoffs in the previous two seasons. Interestingly, Lucknow Supergiants have never lost a match against Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad despite the other three teams having more experience in the league.

Before the new season, the LSG team selected 6 new players in the IPL mini-auction in December 2023. They signed Shivam Mavi for Rs 640 crore and also signed Mohd. Arshad Khan spent Rs 20 lakh to strengthen their pace attack.

LSG also spent Rs 240 crore to bring in left-arm spinner Manimaran Siddharth from Tamil Nadu to accompany Bishnoi in the team’s spin attack. They have also roped in all-rounder Arshin Kulkarni for Rs 20 lakh to bolster their squad. The two overseas buyers they added in the mini-auction were David Willey for INR 20 Crores and Ashton Turner for INR 20 Lakhs Buy.

Super Giants will kick off their IPL 2024 season on March 24 against Rajasthan Royals. Lucknow Supergiants’ young squad is gearing up for another IPL season, let’s take a look at their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats ahead of the 2024 season.

Advantage

LSG has quality batsmen who have shown their quality in the international circuit. Players like Devdutt Padikkal, Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul, Kyle Mayers and Nicholas Pooran can all win matches with the bat on the day. Their solid batting line-up on paper could make it relatively easy for LSG to set a decent target or chase a high score in the second batting order.

In addition, LSG also has many options in terms of top all-around players who can add balance to the team. The likes of Mayers, Willie, Deepak Hooda, Krunal Pandya and Marcus Stoinis provide LSG with various all-round options who can play both with bat and ball in hand. Feel your presence in the situation.

weakness

If Lucknow Supergiants want to succeed in IPL 2024, their pace attack needs to be at its best. They have struggled in the death overs over the past few seasons and need to perform better with the ball in the latter stages of the innings to give their batsmen a fighting chance.

Bowlers like Shivam Mavi, Shamar Joseph, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur and Naveen-ul-Haq all have huge potential, but converting that into consistent performances will be Lucknow’s top priority once the new season begins. Spinners Amit Mishra and Ravi Bishnoi must also be at their best, especially in the middle order, for LSG to enjoy a solid IPL 2024 season.

Chance

LSG’s Indian talent has shown great potential in the domestic circuit and the team is hoping players like Mavi and Siddharth, purchased at the mini-auction, can carry their form into IPL 2024.

Meanwhile, Ayush Badoni and Ravi Bishnoi will be looking to move on after their impressive performances in IPL 2023. Mohsin Khan, who took 14 wickets in 9 games in IPL 2022 until injury interrupted 2023, is another Indian player who will score a point to prove. Afghanistan’s Naveen-ul-Haq is also a player to watch as he had a decent debut season by taking 11 wickets in 8 games last year and will be looking to make an impact on the ball.

threaten

The lack of depth could cause problems for LSG as far as their bowling and batting options are concerned. Marvey, who has not played much cricket of late, will be seeking match fitness, while an injury to another of their frontline pacers could be a huge setback for the team, as was the case last season when Mark Wood exited due to workload Management issues lead to losses for the team.

Similarly, in terms of batting, KL Rahul played only 9 games last season due to injury. LSG will certainly find it difficult to meet the demands of the IPL in the absence of captain Rahul, who has been plagued by injuries of late, and the IPL only seems to get more intense and competitive with each passing season.

Maybe 12

Devdutt Padikkal, Quinton de Kock, Deepak Hooda, KL Rahul (c & wk), Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Shivam Mavi, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Naveen-ul-Haq, Amit Mishra (striker)