Standing on the cusp of elimination, Lucknow Super Giants require a miracle to make the Playoffs. They need to win their last three matches and then hope of finishing among the top four. Their arduous task begins against second-placed Royal Challengers Bangalore in their penultimate home game at the Ekana Stadium on Friday. The home team need a lot of things to come good. Their top foreign batters — Nicholas Pooran, Mitch Marsh, Aiden Markram and David Miller — are off the boil, while skipper Rishabh Pant has just been simmering without success. On the other hand, RCB are having one of their best seasons in 
the IPL. 

Not having won a title in 17 years, RCB seem focussed on breaking that jinx and providing their superstar Virat Kohli with an elusive IPL trophy towards the fag-end of his career.