In a surprising move, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have dropped star South African keeper-batter Quinton de Kock from their team for the crucial Eliminator match against the Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. LSG’s skipper, Krunal Pandya, provided no specific reason for the unexpected decision, leaving fans and experts puzzled.
MI win the toss
The toss took place earlier today, with Mumbai Indians’ captain, Rohit Sharma, winning the toss and electing to bat first. However, the focus soon shifted to the LSG camp when it was announced that De Kock would not be part of the playing XI. The South African cricketer had featured in just four matches this season, amassing 143 runs at an impressive average of 35.75, including a brilliant knock of 70 against the Gujarat Titans.
“It has been an up-and-down season, but we have fought and never gave up. We have match winners, it’s a team effort from us, that’s a really good sign. We have covered all bases, just need to execute our skills. We would have batted first as well, but now we have to play some good cricket.”, Krunal Pandya said after losing the toss.
Mayers in for De Kock
To fill the void left by Quinton de Kock‘s absence, LSG has turned to the reliable Kyle Mayers, who has been named in the impact substitutes list and is expected to open the innings in the second innings of the match. Mayers has been a consistent performer for LSG throughout the season, emerging as the team’s highest run-scorer with 361 runs in 12 matches.
De Kock’s late arrival to the team this season may have played a role in his omission, as Mayers had already established himself as a key figure in the LSG lineup by the time De Kock joined the team. The decision to drop a player of De Kock’s caliber remains a bold move by the LSG management, especially in a high-stakes encounter like the Eliminator.
LSG will now rely on their other batting stalwarts, including the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Marcus Stoinis, and skipper Krunal Pandya himself, to deliver strong performances and secure victory against the formidable Mumbai Indians. With the winner of this match set to face the Gujarat Titans in Qualifier 2, LSG will be eager to make a statement and keep their hopes of lifting the IPL 2023 trophy alive.
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