After facing a 20-run defeat to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their season opener, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will aim to bounce back with a win in their upcoming match against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on March 30 at the Ekana Stadium. Ahead of the match, LSG coach Justin Langer confirmed that Shamar Joseph will have to wait to make his IPL debut. West Indies fast bowler Shamar Joseph played a crucial role in his national team’s memorable win at the Gabba over Australia and secured an IPL spot following Mark Wood’s withdrawal from the 2024 IPL season. However, he will not feature in the starting lineup for the match against Shikhar Dhawan-led PBKS on March 30.
Langer went on to say that 24-year-old Joseph is working hard to secure a spot in the LSG playing XI.
Langer lavishes praise on Joseph
"Shamar Joseph is a very talented player," Langer said on the eve of the match.
"I admire his spirit, athleticism, and the way he approaches the game. He's young and working hard to earn a spot. However, I don't think he'll be playing tomorrow”, he added.
Expectations were high for Shamar to make his debut in the opening match against RR, but LSG captain KL Rahul indicated that the young player would need to be patient for his opportunity.
"Shamar Joseph will get game time at some stage," said Rahul during the toss against RR.
Sticking to 3 overseas batters and 1 bowler: Langer
Langer added that LSG have traditionally played three overseas batters and one bowler which has brought them success, but they will keep the team combination close to their chest on March 30.
“We'll stick to our plan of playing three overseas batsmen and one overseas bowler. Naveen-ul-Haq bowled well in the first game, and we expect another strong performance from him tomorrow. So, for the match against Punjab, we'll field three overseas batsmen -- Quinton de Kock, Nicholas Pooran, and Marcus Stoinis -- and Naveen as our specialist overseas bowler.”
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