Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be keen to overcome their final hurdle in hopes of making it to the playoffs when they visit the Wankhede Stadium to take on Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday, May 17.
LSG stand in seventh place with 12 points in 13 games. Nothing less than a win will do if they are to play in the knockouts. But their net run rate (NRR) of -0.787 makes things a tad too complicated for KL Rahul and Co. They will have to win by a massive margin and will need other results to go their way in order to pull off an improbable top four finish.
BET NOW: Exclusive sign-up offers and bonuses when you bet on IPL action
On the other end, Mumbai Indians will take solace in the fact that they nightmarish IPL 2024 campaign will come to a close after their game against LSG.
With just four wins this season, MI have been the one of the worst teams in the league, plagued by alleged dressing room conflicts and the senior players not delivering when required.
MI vs LSG: Pitch Report
The pitch at the Wankhede Stadium has mostly been conducive to batsmen, with teams scoring around – and often crossing – the 200-run mark with ease.
In 117 IPL games played at the Wankhede Stadium till date, the average first innings score is 170. However, since IPL 2022, 176 is the average first innings score, indicating at the batsmen getting more from the pitch.
However, it is the team that bats second which has tasted a lot more success. There have been 64 wins in run chases in 117 IPL games, and 21 in 34 games since 2022 alone.
MI vs LSG: Live Toss
MI have won the toss and they will field first.
MI vs LSG: Confirmed lineups
Mumbai Indians Confirmed Playing XI:
Ishan Kishan (WK), Naman Dhir, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (C), Nehal Wadhera, Romario Shepherd, Piyush Chawla, Nuwan Thushara, Anshul Kamboj, Arjun Tendulkar.
Substitutes: Rohit Sharma, Tim David, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya Singh, Shams Mulani.
Lucknow Super Giants Confirmed Playing XI:
Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul (C & WK), Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Arshad Khan, Mohsin Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Matt Henry.
Substitutes: Naveen-ul-Haq, Ashton Turner, M Siddarth, Prerak Mankad, Krishnappa Gowtham.
MI vs LSG: Prediction
It's a clash between one team with everything at stake (LSG) and the other having nothing else to lose (MI).
For LSG, it's either win or bust. A win will take them to 14 points and a fourth-place finish at best. Lose, and they will have to wait for another year to win their first IPL title. As for the Men in Blue and Gold, they will play for nothing else but pride. They will hope to give their fans something to cheer for in their final league outing in what has otherwise been an utterly shambolic season.
MI have an average record at the Wankhede Stadium this season, winning three games and losing as many. And LSG, in the past, have shown a remarkable tendency to crumble in the biggest games. As such, it is likely for MI to shatter LSG's hopes, regardless of how faint they are.
MI vs LSG: Betting odds
According to odds on Dafabet, MI are favourites to win the clash against LSG.
| Team | Odds |
| Mumbai Indians | 1.75 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | 2.15 |