Ekana Crciket Stadium is set to host it’s first match of the season. (PC: X.com)

Lucknow’s Ekana Cricket Stadium will host its first match of the season, with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) going head to head with Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Tuesday, April 1.

Both teams are coming off a win and will be looking to continue their winning momentum. For Lucknow, Mayank Yadav and Akash Deep will be unavailable as they continue to recover from their respective injuries. Despite these fitness concerns, LSG’s bowling attack has done well. For PBKS, beating a spin-heavy LSG in their own backyard will be a tough task. Unlike LSG, PBKS doesn’t have great depth in their spin department. It’ll be a battle of spinners in Lucknow.

Pitch Report

The pitch will be a red soil surface, which is expected to offer bounce and potentially favour spinners, as has often been the case in Lucknow. Batters may find it tough to score on this pitch. Only once has a score of 200-plus been posted at this venue.

Head-to-Head

LSG has a strong record against PBKS, having won three out of the four games played between the two teams. The last time these two met in Lucknow, the hosts emerged victorious.

Prediction

Rishabh Pant has more options in his spin department, and if the conditions favour slower bowlers, LSG will have the upper hand due to their greater depth compared to PBKS. Shreyas Iyer will be relying on Yuzvendra Chahal to do the damage. The team that handles the batting conditions better is likely to win the match.