The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to square off against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 45th match of IPL 2023 on Wednesday, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. But the home team received a massive blow ahead of the contest, as KL Rahul was ruled out due to the injury he sustained in their previous match against RCB on Monday. Krunal Pandya has taken over the reins in Rahul's absence. CSK captain MS Dhoni won the toss and opted to field first on a dry surface. After recovering from injury, Deepak Chahar returned to the CSK playing XI, replacing Akash Singh.LSG on the other hand brought in Manan Vohra to fill the void left by KL Rahul in the opening slot. They also replaced Deepak Hooda with Karan Sharma in the top order.Hooda has been poor with the bat so far this season, scoring a paltry 53 runs at an average of 6.63 across nine games.Several fans took note of the LSG team management's decision to drop Deepak Hooda from the playing XI and expressed their reactions on Twitter. Some referenced the history between Krunal Pandya and Deepak Hooda and claimed that it might have played a part in the decision.Here are some of the best reactions:Prashant💕@pra_shant001Krunal Pandya ke captain bante hi Deepak Hooda bahaar#LSGvsCSK #MSDhoni𓃵 #KLRahul𓃵Krunal Pandya ke captain bante hi Deepak Hooda bahaar😂😂#LSGvsCSK #MSDhoni𓃵 #KLRahul𓃵Rahul Mishra@mishra_rahul93Krunal Pandya is captain for today's match & Deepak Hooda is not in Playing 11.#CSKvsLSG #IPL2023Krunal Pandya is captain for today's match & Deepak Hooda is not in Playing 11.#CSKvsLSG #IPL2023 https://t.co/hfKrCqBjofKishan Kishor@itskishankishorKrunal Pandya become Captain of #LucknowSuperGiants & Deepak Hooda Out of Playing XI. 🤫🤫Its totally shows enemy with each other.#LSGvsCSK #LSGvCSK #CSKvsLSG #CSKvLSG #IPL20232Krunal Pandya become Captain of #LucknowSuperGiants & Deepak Hooda Out of Playing XI. 🤫🤫Its totally shows enemy with each other.#LSGvsCSK #LSGvCSK #CSKvsLSG #CSKvLSG #IPL2023Avinash Mishra@Avanishm800Krunal Pandya captain and Deepak Hooda has been dropped..!! #DeepakHooda #krunalpandya #CSKvsLSGKrunal Pandya captain and Deepak Hooda has been dropped..!! #DeepakHooda #krunalpandya #CSKvsLSGBhavesh Gujrati@BhavlivelifeSupremacy of tharki Brothers...2 tharkis 2 Captains....Immediately #DeepakHooda is dropped...Kuch samjh rahe ho 🙄#krunalpandya #LucknowSuperGiants #ChennaiSuperKings #CSKvsLSG #CSKvLSG #LSGvsCSK #LSGvCSK #TATAIPL2023 #IPL202321Supremacy of tharki Brothers...2 tharkis 2 Captains....Immediately #DeepakHooda is dropped...Kuch samjh rahe ho 🙄#krunalpandya #LucknowSuperGiants #ChennaiSuperKings #CSKvsLSG #CSKvLSG #LSGvsCSK #LSGvCSK #TATAIPL2023 #IPL2023Mohit Shah@mohit_shah17Krunal Pandya captains LSG for the 1st time ever and Deepak Hooda is out of the playing XI immediatelyCoincidence?#IPL #LSGvCSK61Krunal Pandya captains LSG for the 1st time ever and Deepak Hooda is out of the playing XI immediatelyCoincidence?#IPL #LSGvCSKm@n!@riego1033Krunal Pandya is taking charge ( Leading) so Deepak Hooda will have no chance n already outKrunal Pandya is taking charge ( Leading) so Deepak Hooda will have no chance n already outOggy 💙@SirOggyBillaCaptain Krunal Pandya Dropped Deepak Hooda #LSGvsCSK9Captain Krunal Pandya Dropped Deepak Hooda 😆😹 #LSGvsCSKSanthosh Glement@glementsanthoshDeepak Hooda out and Krunal Pandya is the captain ..something fishy right ?#CSKvsLSG #IPL2023 #starsportstamil #STARAIKELLUNGAL #CSK #LSGDeepak Hooda out and Krunal Pandya is the captain ..something fishy right ?#CSKvsLSG #IPL2023 #starsportstamil #STARAIKELLUNGAL #CSK #LSGloLowerKey@Ajinkya11598Krunal Pandya's first decision as captain - Deepak Hooda out1Krunal Pandya's first decision as captain - Deepak Hooda outJayesh@Jayesh_45@CricCrazyJohns Krunal Pandya has silently dropped Deepak Hooda iykiykiyk@CricCrazyJohns Krunal Pandya has silently dropped Deepak Hooda 😁 iykiykiykTitans 12th man@OneofthemankindThe first thing KPtaan Krunal Pandya did is kick out Deepak Hooda, help. 2The first thing KPtaan Krunal Pandya did is kick out Deepak Hooda, help. 😭"The morale of the team is high, we have played some good cricket" - Krunal Pandya after losing the toss in LSG vs CSK IPL 2023 clashSpeaking at the toss, Krunal Pandya admitted that losing KL Rahul was a big blow. However, he claimed that it gives the fringe players an opportunity to step in and display their skills on the big stage."We wanted to bat first in fact had we won the toss," Pandya said. "So it's even Stevens for both the teams. We don't know how the wicket will play though it is home conditions for us. So we want to go and play without pressure as batters. It's a big loss losing KL.""He's a quality player and captain of the team," he added. "But it creates an opportunity for the other players. The morale of the team is high, we have played some good cricket. So we're looking forward to it again."