Fantasy Pick: Bank on Glenn Maxwell to deliver
May 26: Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Eliminator, Eden Gardens
Safe XI: Glenn Maxwell (capt), Mohsin Khan (vice-capt), Dinesh Karthik, Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Deepak Hooda, Rajat Patidar, Josh Hazlewood, Avesh Khan, Wanindu Hasaranga
Captain: Glenn Maxwell
Maxwell has been peaking right at the business end of the season, recording scores of 40*, 35 and 33 in the recent games. He has also taken five wickets in his last four outings at an economy of 6.67 and a strike rate of 14.40. In his last four games at Eden Gardens, he has scored 183 runs at a strike rate of 183.
Vice-captain: Mohsin Khan
The 23-year-old has the best economy rate (5.93) and best average (13.23) among fast bowlers this season. He has taken 13 wickets in eight outings so far, with five wickets each in the powerplay and the death overs, which suggests he is a complete package.
Hot Picks
KL Rahul: The Super Giants captain is a must-have in your safe XI. His recent scores against Royal Challengers are 30, 39, 91*, 61*, 132* and 42. He is one of the orange cap contenders for this season, having scored 537 runs in 14 games at an average of 48.82.
Wanindu Hasaranga: The wristspinner has been making waves this season, having picked up 24 wickets in 14 games at an average of 15.08. Although his primary role is to pick up wickets in middle overs, he has been effective in the death overs too, where he has taken six wickets in five overs at an economy of 6.
Differential Picks
Dinesh Karthik: He has been one of the best finishers this season, scoring 206 runs at a strike rate of 226.37 in the death overs while getting out only twice in that phase. At Eden Gardens, he has scored 708 runs at an average of 39.33 and a strike rate of 141.88.
Avesh Khan: Avesh is the leading wicket-taker for Super Giants this season with 17 scalps in 12 games. Since 2021, he has taken the joint-second most wickets in the powerplay in the IPL, with 13 strikes in 26 innings at an economy of 7.05.
High-risk XI: KL Rahul (capt), Wanindu Hasaranga (vice-capt), Dinesh Karthik, Faf du Plessis, Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Evin Lewis, Glenn Maxwell, Jason Holder, Harshal Patel, Mohsin Khan