LSG vs KKR IPL 2022 Highlights: Lucknow Super Giants claim top spot with dominant 75-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders

Quinton de Kock(w), KL Rahul(c), Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Ayush Badoni, Jason Holder, Dushmantha Chameera, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan

Aaron Finch, Baba Indrajith(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi, Harshit Rana

"Unfortunately Umesh pulled his calf muscle and Harshit Rana comes in. It is really important as a captain to have a great combination right from the first game but there are so many injuries and niggles you have to keep chopping and changing, but that is part and parcel of the game," says Shreyas.

"We will look to bowl first. Considering the wicket which looks dry and dew is not going to play a massive role on this ground," says Shreyas Iyer.

Kolkata Knight Riders have won the toss and have opted to bowl

"There has been more help when the spinners have bowled slower, less than 90kph. The grass has been shaved off, not much grass left and that has exposed the top soil. It is nice and hard but a bit abrasive. It is going to help the spinners a lot more especially with dew not being a factor," reckons Deep Dasgupta about the surface.

Young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi stood apart with his 1/28 against Delhi Capitals. Lucknow will hope for an encore.

We are just minutes away from the toss... stay tuned!

Dushmantha Chameera and Jason Holder would need to forget their hammering by Delhi Capitals. While the Sri Lankan bled 44 runs in his four, the West Indian all-rounder conceded 45 in his four-over spell.

Pacer Mohsin Khan, who snared four wickets in their last game, will also have a big role to play against the likes of Shreyas Iyer and Andre Russell. Lucknow are currently on a three-game winning run and two more points will help them claim the playoffs seat.

With 53 wickets, Umesh Yadav is just two plucks away from surpassing Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Sandeep Sharma in list of bowlers with highest number of IPL wickets in first six overs.

All-rounder Krunal Pandya is also having one of his best IPL seasons. The Baroda cricketer has plucked nine wickets at an average of 20.7 and with an economy of 6.64. His economy is the second-best this year after Sunil Narine (5.25). Also, Krunal can chip in with batting cameos as well.

Rahul has a chance to inch closer to Jos Buttler in the Orange Cap race. The Indian has been a consistent performer in the T20 league with four 500-plus seasons in the last four editions.

"KL is a street smart batsman. He is capable of batting at any position, he has done that in India colours and one can do that with such ease only if he's talented. He is one of the most valuable Indian batters because he has the ability to play in different modes," said Irfan Pathan on Star Sports about Rahul's skill-set.

Nitish Rana has hit 179 runs in the last five games and Kolkata will expect more runs from the left-handed batter. He's the ability to clear the boundary fence with absolute ease, with his strike rate being 143.2.

Teams batting first in Pune this season have been victorious on seven out of 10 occasions so far. 

Win the toss and bat first?

Kolkata Knight Riders flaunt an impressive record at Pune, having played seven games and won all of them. Their last game at the venue was against Mumbai Indians where Pat Cummins hammered a 15-ball 56.

Kolkata snapped their five-game losing streak by defeating Rajasthan in their last game. While Nitish Rana and Rinku Singh produced match-winning knocks, Anukul Roy played his part to return 1/28. Roy made his place in the Playing XI after replacing Venkatesh Iyer and might get another chance tonight as well.

KKR dished out a clinical show when they restricted Rajasthan Royals to a modest 152. While Umesh and Narine were brilliant, the onus will be on Southee to put up an improved show with the ball.

Umesh Yadav has been brilliant for Kolkata this season. The Indian has already got 15 wickets in 10 games.

"We have been talking about Umesh Yadav right from the start. He has increased his pace, bowls those hard lengths and as a captain you just have to give him the ball to deliver," Shreyas said on the in-form pacer.

The biggest worry for Kolkata Knight Riders has been their out-of-form openers. They have tried different combinations, but none has worked so far. Aaron Finch and Baba Indrajith had started the innings in the last game.

While Lucknow look to seal playoffs berth, Kolkata have their task cut out against the IPL newbies. Led by Shreyas Iyer, the two-time IPL champions are languishing in the eighth spot with eight points and after four wins from 10 games. A win tonight will help Kolkata stay alive in the top-4 race.

Aaron Finch, Baba Indrajith(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Nitish Rana, Rinku Singh, Anukul Roy, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee, Shivam Mavi, Pat Cummins, Sam Billings, Venkatesh Iyer, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ajinkya Rahane, Mohammad Nabi, Sheldon Jackson, Chamika Karunaratne, Pratham Singh, Abhijeet Tomar, Aman Hakim Khan, Ashok Sharma, Ramesh Kumar, Harshit Rana

Rahul has been in a league of his own and the Indian team management will have a close eye on his batting exploits. He's been playing the role of an anchor for LSG and might play a similar role in the national side.

In the last World T20, their batting order didn't yield favourable results and India look to put up a much-improved show this year in Australia. 

Former Indian player Mohammed Kaif believes Rahul is capable of playing aggressive shots from the word go, and the Karnataka batter has all strokes in his arsenal.

"Rahul is trying to play captaincy innings this year. He can be aggressive from the word go and he's capable of starting his innings with a six but he is curbing his instincts in order to play long and impactful knocks. He has all the shots in his arsenal."

Every Lucknow Super Giants player will be wearing a jersey with name of his mother on the back. The franchise is dedicating it to all the mothers of the world on the occasion of Mother's Day.

In-form KL Rahul has earned massive praise from pundits and former India players. Former Indian cricketer Suresh Raina reckons the batter is in the best phase of his career.

"He is in the best mindset right now, he's batting with a very positive mindset. He is playing some amazing shots which proves that he is in the best phase of his career. He is trying a few new things as well this season," Raina said on 'Cricket Live' on Star Sports.