Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will take on Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 61st match of IPL 2025. The match will be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. It will begin at 7:30 pm IST.

Stakes Are Different for Both Teams

While SRH are already out of the tournament, LSG still have a slim chance of making it to the playoffs. However, if Lucknow lose this match, they will be officially eliminated from playoff contention. Therefore, this is a must-win game for them.

LSG Struggling with Both Bat and Ball

So far, Lucknow have had a tough season. Their bowling unit has failed to make an impact, especially in the powerplay. In fact, they have the worst economy rate during the first six overs this year.

Moreover, key bowlers like Shardul Thakur have been ineffective. Akash Deep has looked off-color since coming back from injury. Meanwhile, Mayank Yadav, once seen as a game-changer, played only two matches before getting injured. On the brighter side, uncapped spinner Digvesh Rathi has shown promise.

SRH Suffer Major Decline This Season

On the other hand, Sunrisers Hyderabad have performed far below expectations. After reaching the final last season, they have failed to deliver in IPL 2025. Their explosive opening pair from last year—Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma—has lost its rhythm. Both their average partnership and strike rate have dropped.

Furthermore, retained player Nitish Kumar Reddy has faced a second-season slump. Key players like Heinrich Klaasen and Pat Cummins, who were vital last year, have not been as effective this season. To make things worse, their spin department has not impressed either. Rookie spinner Zeeshan Ansari has taken six wickets, the most among their spinners, but overall, their spin unit has the worst economy rate—9.9—in the entire league.

Both Teams Desperate for a Win

Although SRH have nothing to gain in terms of playoff spots, they will look to avoid finishing at the bottom. In contrast, LSG must win to stay alive. As a result, both sides will be desperate to secure a victory.

Team Updates and Availability

Mayank Yadav is out of the LSG squad, and New Zealand pacer Will O’Rourke has replaced him. Shamar Joseph remains unavailable and has not played a single game this season.

Meanwhile, Travis Head tested positive for Covid-19 in Australia and is expected to reach India on the day of the match. As head coach Daniel Vettori said, “His availability will be assessed after that.”

In addition, Wiaan Mulder will miss the game, though it's not a major setback as he has played only once this season. Jaydev Unadkat is also unavailable due to personal reasons.

If Head does not play, the team might promote Ishan Kishan to open. Either Sachin Baby or Harsh Dubey may take a spot in the middle order.

LSG Need to Win All Remaining Matches

So far, LSG have lost four of their last five games. Consequently, they must win all of their remaining three matches and also rely on other teams' results to stay in the race.

One of their biggest concerns has been the middle order. Rishabh Pant has failed to score runs consistently. David Miller, who once played crucial roles for Gujarat Titans, has also struggled this season. Because of this, LSG now depend heavily on Abdul Samad and Ayush Badoni to finish the innings. This has increased pressure on the young batters.

Pitch Report

The pitch at the Ekana Stadium has supported bowlers, especially spinners. While the new ball allows easier scoring, batting becomes harder as the ball gets older and softer. Additionally, the ground contains both red and black soil pitches. Depending on which one is used on match day, teams may adjust their playing XI accordingly.

Weather Report

According to the Accuweather app, the weather will remain clear. During the day, temperatures could reach up to 39°C. By evening, it is expected to cool down to around 29°C. Therefore, conditions will be ideal for cricket.

Probable Playing XI's

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG): Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Akash Singh/Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep/Shardul Thakur
Impact Sub: Prince Yadav

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH): Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Travis Head/Kamindu Mendis, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari
Impact Sub: Eshan Malinga