LSG vs RCB Highlights, IPL 2023: Bangalore beat Lucknow by 18 runs for fifth win of season

1 1 1 0 1 1 - Krunal Pandya bowls a tidy five-run second over to keep Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis quiet. Leggie Ravi Bishnoi to bowl the final over of the powerplay. RCB 37/0 after 5 overs

SIX! Naveen-ul-Haq bowls length ball just outside off and it lands right in the slot for Faf du Plessis. He hammers it over long-off for the first maximum of the evening. RCB 26/0 after 3.3 overs

Looks like Lucknow skipper KL Rahul has injured his hamstring! Faf du Plessis drove the Marcus Stoinis last ball to the cover fence and Rahul was running behind the ball. He pulled off the chase mid-way, sliding on to the turf in pain. Looks like Rahul is in serious trouble. RCB 16/0 after 2 overs

4 0 0 0 1 0 - A tidy start from Krunal Pandya. Got hit for a boundary first-ball but does well to restrict the scoring to just 5 in his first over. All-rounder Marcus Stoinis to share the new ball with Krunal from the other end for Lucknow. RCB 5/0 after 1 over

FOUR! What a start to this contest! Turn and bounce straightaway for Krunal Pandya. Virat Kohli gets a thick-ish outside edge and the lightening quick outfield takes the ball to third man fence in no time. Kohli and Bangalore get underway with a boundary first ball. RCB 4/0 after 0.1 overs

Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis are in the middle to begin the innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya to start the proceedings for Lucknow Super Giants. A slip in place for Krunal. Kohli on strike. Here we go!

KL Rahul(c), Kyle Mayers, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya, Nicholas Pooran(w), Krishnappa Gowtham, Ravi Bishnoi, Naveen-ul-Haq, Amit Mishra, Yash Thakur

Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Anuj Rawat, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Dinesh Karthik(w), Suyash Prabhudessai, Wanindu Hasaranga, Karn Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Josh Hazlewood

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis wins the toss and decides to bat first against Lucknow Super Giants.

Lucknow Super Giants - W L W L W | Royal Challengers Bangalore - L W W L W

The Ekana Stadium in Lucknow has been the least favourable venue in terms of run rate (7.50) this season. It has produced the second-highest balls per six (22.3) in a match and scoring has been difficult here.

The pitch in Lucknow has been bit of a letdown and worked against the strengths of the home team. Offered a batting beauty in Mohali, LSG batters went on the rampage but they have struggled due to the slow nature of the surface at home. Rahul and Co. would, however, be expected to put up a much better show than what they managed in their previous home game as they failed to chase 136 from a commanding position.

LSG, on the other hand, head into the game after a thumping victory against Punjab Kings. The batting performance against Punjab was a testament to the firepower they posses. No total is safe when Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis and Nicholas Pooran get going. Skipper KL Rahul, however, will be the feeling heat and would want to make a statement at LSG's home ground.

Kohli, du Plessis and Maxwell can't be expected to do the job in every game and it is high time the likes of Mahipal Lomror, Shahbaz Ahmed and Dinesh Karthik step up. The fielding and catching too needs to improve, something which was pointed by Kohli himself after the loss to KKR. The former India captain will continue to lead the side unless Faf du Plessis, who has been used as an 'Impact Player', regains full fitness. Mohammad Siraj has been the stand out bowler for RCB and he needs support from the other fast bowlers. Harshal Patel is tasked with bowling the tough overs but he would want to bring down his economy rate from 9.94.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will aim to shed the over reliance on their celebrated top-order when they face a belligerent Lucknow Super Giants in Match 43. RCB have struggled to maintain momentum provided by Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell, who have done all the scoring in the eight games so far. With most teams bunched up closely in the standings, the margin for errors has reduced in the second half of the competition.