Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 30th match of IPL 2025. This clash will take place on Monday at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
CSK Seek Urgent Turnaround
So far, CSK are having a terrible season. In fact, they have never looked weaker in IPL history. They have now lost five matches in a row, including three at Chepauk, which was once their stronghold.
Although MS Dhoni returned as captain after Ruturaj Gaikwad’s injury, the team still lost their previous match on Friday. Clearly, his return hasn’t changed their fortune yet.
Batting Line-up Continues to Struggle
Moreover, CSK’s batting remains a big concern. Their batters have struggled against spin. Surprisingly, an away game could give them a better chance to regroup. However, Ruturaj Gaikwad’s absence makes their comeback even harder.
Previously, critics accused CSK of sticking with aging players. Now, those concerns are louder than ever. Additionally, the team lacks explosive hitters. Even Dhoni admitted, “Even targeting 60 runs in the powerplay is a tad too ambitious for them.”
On top of that, Rachin Ravindra and Devon Conway are technically sound but not aggressive starters. Meanwhile, Rahul Tripathi, who replaces Gaikwad at No. 3, will face serious pressure.
Furthermore, Ravindra Jadeja needs to contribute more. CSK also need to back up Shivam Dube, who can’t carry the power-hitting burden alone. Ideally, Dhoni should provide that support. But since he batted at No. 9 in the last game, his impact has been limited.
CSK Still Remain Hopeful
Nevertheless, CSK are not giving up. Batting coach Mike Hussey backed his team after the recent loss to KKR. He said,“I still think we’ve got the right players. There’s a lot of talk about the style of our play. But the players we’ve got, we don’t want to ask them to play in a completely different way; that’s natural to them.”
LSG Eye Fourth Consecutive Victory
Meanwhile, LSG are flying high. They are aiming for their fourth straight win in the tournament. Unlike CSK, they have found some momentum.
At the beginning of the season, their bowling was weak due to injuries to key pacers. However, things have changed. In their last match against Gujarat Titans, LSG’s bowlers turned the game around.
Notably, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, and Shardul Thakur bowled tight lines. They stopped the Titans from capitalizing on a strong start.
Improved Pitch Aids Power Hitters
Interestingly, the Lucknow pitch, known for being slow, has improved for batting this season. As a result, players like Nicholas Pooran have benefited. He is hitting the ball cleanly and with confidence.
Due to Mitchell Marsh’s absence, Rishabh Pant opened the innings with Aiden Markram last game. Pant has lacked runs lately, but he did fairly well as an opener.
Now, the big question is—will Pant continue opening once Marsh returns? Since Marsh has been one of LSG’s best batters, Pant’s spot at the top might be temporary.
Team Squads
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Rishabh Pant (c & wk), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Aryan Juyal (wk), Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni, Ayush Badoni, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi.
Chennai Super Kings (CSK): MS Dhoni, Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube, Matheesha Pathirana, Noor Ahmad, Ravichandran Ashwin, Devon Conway, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Vijay Shankar, Sam Curran, Shaik Rashid, Anshul Kamboj, Mukesh Choudhary, Deepak Hooda, Gurjanpreet Singh, Nathan Ellis, Jamie Overton, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Ramakrishnan Ghosh, Shreyas Gopal, Vansh Bedi, Andre Siddarth.