With the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League being just days away, excitement regarding the tournament has been scaling newer heights with every passing day. Recently, former Australian skipper and noted IPL veteran Aaron Finch joined the coterie as he could be seen analysing Lucknow Super Giants’ squad in a pre-tournament show with official TV broadcasters Star Sports.
Finch heaped praises on Lucknow’s formidable opening pair of KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock and said that going ahead with their campaign, the duo’s performance would determine a lot for the franchise.
“The big strength of the Lucknow Super Giants is their opening combination, KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock. They complement each other so well. They are very different players, and their strengths and weaknesses offset each other. So, I think if they are going to have a big season. I think the home ground advantage for the Lucknow Super Giants this year, although their wicket has been a little unpredictable at times, they’ve got a class opening combination in KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, their middle order power of Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran, and they’ve got a lot of bowling options, Krunal Pandya with the ball, who can also be versatile with the bat. So, I think they have got a lot of options to be able to exploit whatever the wicket produces”, Finch was quoted as saying.
“Player to watch out for, for Lucknow, will be Nicholas Pooran. They’ve spent a lot of money to get him in the auction. He wasn’t at his best last season, but we know how destructive he can be. He’s someone who strikes it at such a high strike rate, particularly early in his innings. So, for me, he is the player to watch out for. The X-factor for me this season for Lucknow I see being Deepak Hooda. He’s someone who has taken the responsibility of batting at number 3. He’s someone who strikes at a good strike rate, particularly in the first 10 balls. He continues to keep being aggressive. If he can bat for longer periods of time, while being aggressive, that will set up that middle and lower order to be at their destructive best,” Finch said.
“I see a potential weakness in the Lucknow Super Giants, being their death bowling. I think they’ve got a lot of options throughout the middle, they’ve got some good all-rounders. But I think, when you look at the combinations, finding good quality four overs of death bowling will be a real challenge for them,” opined Finch.
“My season performance prediction, for the Lucknow Super Giants is they will finish around fifth. Could sneak into the finals, I’m just a little worried about their death bowling under pressure. But all in all, they are a very dangerous side with a lot of match winners throughout,” predicted Finch.
