Cricket

Two-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) will face a depleted Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) side at Eden Gardens on April 14, seeking to return to winning ways and strengthen their playoff aspirations.KKR, who have won three of their five matches so far, will be eager to make the most of their home advantage. However, they will need to address their batting woes, which have been exposed by the absence of Nitish Rana and the inconsistent form of captain Shreyas Iyer.Iyer, who has scored just 34 runs in his last four innings, will be under pressure to deliver. The team's reliance on the aging Caribbean duo of Sunil Narine and Andre Russell has also been a concern, as both players failed to fire in their previous outing against Chennai Super Kings.LSG, on the other hand, will be without their pace sensation Mayank Yadav for a second consecutive match. Yadav's absence has weakened their bowling attack, which has already been struggling to contain opposition batters.Despite their depleted squad, LSG will be confident of causing an upset. They boast a formidable batting lineup led by Quinton de Kock and KL Rahul, who will be looking to return to form after a disappointing outing against Delhi Capitals.The match promises to be a close contest, with both teams desperate for a victory. KKR will be the favorites, but LSG have shown that they are capable of punching above their weight.

Lucknow Super Giants' promising fast bowler Mayank Yadav's impressive IPL debut was cut short by an injury during the match against Gujarat Titans. The young pacer, who had taken three wickets in each of his first two matches, missed the subsequent game against Delhi Capitals due to a minor swelling at the top of his hip.Following LSG's loss to Delhi Capitals, skipper KL Rahul provided an update on Mayank's condition. "Mayank is not too bad, he looks good, feeling good, but we also want to make sure we don't rush him back in too early," Rahul said. "He's young, we need to protect his body. He's itching to go, we just have to pull him back a little, maybe a couple of more games, before he comes back."LSG head coach Justin Langer revealed the extent of Mayank's injury. "He felt a little bit of tightness at the top of his hip leading into the last game, but that was about a one-out-of-ten pain, and we thought that they were clinical signs," Langer said. "Everything through the doctors and the physios seemed perfectly okay. He bowled that first over (against Titans) and started feeling something in his hip. But we had an MRI scan, and there is a very, very small swelling in there. So we are very hopeful he'll start building himself up and be back bowling again soon."Mayank's injury is a setback for LSG, who have relied heavily on his pace and control in the early stages of the tournament. The 21-year-old has already made a name for himself by bowling the fastest delivery of IPL 2024 at 156.7 kmph.The LSG management is taking a cautious approach with Mayank's recovery, recognizing the importance of protecting his long-term health. The team is hopeful that he will be back in action soon and continue to make a significant contribution to their campaign.

Mayank Yadav, the fast bowler for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), is expected to miss the team's next two matches due to a minor hip injury. Head coach Justin Langer confirmed the news on Thursday, stating that Mayank is unlikely to play against Delhi Capitals and Kolkata Knight Riders.Mayank experienced discomfort in his hip during LSG's previous match against Gujarat Titans on Sunday. He bowled only one over before leaving the field. Subsequent medical examinations revealed a small swelling in his hip."He felt a little bit of tightness at the top of his hip leading into the last game," Langer explained. "He bowled that first over and started feeling something in his hip. We had an MRI scan, and there is a very, very small swelling in there."Despite the injury, Langer expressed optimism that Mayank will recover quickly. "We are very hopeful he'll start building himself up and be back bowling again soon," he said.LSG's short turnaround between matches and travel schedule make it challenging for Mayank to recover in time for the upcoming games. "It's unlikely that he plays these two games," Langer admitted. "But he's certainly working towards playing whenever he possibly can."The team is targeting Mayank's return for their match against Chennai Super Kings on April 19. "We want him to play every game if possible," Langer emphasized. "He's working very hard every day to be ready for whatever our next game is."In Mayank's absence, LSG will have to rely on other bowlers to fill the void. The team has a number of options, including Avesh Khan, Dushmantha Chameera, and Mohsin Khan.