In a tight spot, LSG take on RCB today

One more loss and hopes for a berth in IPL playoffs goes for a six. This is the current situation of the Lucknow Super Giants as they take on joint table toppers Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their penultimate match on the home turf here on Friday.

- Sharad Deep

LUCKNOW:

With just 10 points in 11 matches so far, LSG need to win all their remaining three matches to take their points tally to 16 and then will be waiting for other teams' positions at the end of the league phase as only four will be making it to the play-offs.

As many as five teams, including Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, are already in the race for a berth in the play-offs and it looks a difficult task for the LSG to make the cut given their performance in the last three matches.

Besides the poor form of skipper Rishabh Pant, it's the bad selection of pitches that hit LSG badly. Pant, who was bought by the franchise at the mega auction last year for Rs 27 crore, has so far scored 128 runs in 10 innings with 63 being his highest at an average of 12.80, and LSG lost all their three home games of red soil turf of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium besides winning two on the black soil pitch.