In match 38 of the ongoing Indian Premier League, Lucknow Super Giants are set to welcome Kolkata Knight Riders to the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Sunday. Both teams are under immense pressure, making this encounter crucial in shaping their campaigns. LSG's season has taken a worrying turn with only two victories from seven matches. They are currently trapped in a four-game losing streak that has stalled their momentum.

Ironically, their last win came against Kolkata in a nail-biting game that showcased the emergence of Mukul Choudhary, whose explosive unbeaten half-century helped LSG snatch the victory. Since that win, however, Lucknow have struggled to replicate that spark. A major concern for the home side has been their unreliable batting lineup. Mitchell Marsh has been in form but has yet to produce a truly match-defining performance. Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, and captain Rishabh Pant have contributed in patches. The biggest letdown has been Nicholas Pooran, whose lean run with the bat has left a big gap in the middle order. Abdul Samad, too, has struggled for consistency.

However, Lucknow’s bowling unit has provided some stability. Mohammad Shami has been effective with the new ball, while young Prince Yadav has impressed in the death overs. Mohsin Khan also delivered a promising performance in their previous outing against RR.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders finally opened their account this season with a win over Rajasthan, a team that had earlier defeated Lucknow. But Kolkata’s issues still persist. Their struggles in the powerplay have been particularly damaging, with early wickets derailing their innings in successive matches. Captain Ajinkya Rahane began the campaign on a positive note but has since endured a dip in form, including consecutive outings with no score. Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi has been a standout performer and remains their most reliable batter so far. Cameron Green, too, has started to get rhythm.

Head-to-head

Matches - 7

KKR won - 2

LSG won - 5

LSG Probable XII:Ayush Badoni, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Himmat Singh, Mukul Choudhary, Mohammed Shami, Mayank Yadav, Digvesh Rathi, Mohsin Khan, Prince Yadav

KKR Probable XII:Ajinkya Rahane, Tim Seifert, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cam Green, Rovman Powell, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Kartik Tyagi, Matheesha Pathirana/Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy