Match Overview
The 26th IPL 2025 match features Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Gujarat Titans (GT) in a high-stakes clash at Lucknow’s spin-friendly Ekana Stadium. LSG, with mixed results this season, aims to leverage home conditions, while GT seeks to extend their dominance in head-to-head encounters.
Key Insights
Pitch & Conditions
Surface: Bowling-friendly track offering early seam movement and grip for spinners. Batters need patience to accelerate later.
Avg. 1st Innings Score: 166 (IPL history at Ekana).
Toss Impact: 48% of matches won by chasing teams, but batting first could be strategic on this slow pitch.
Team Form
LSG: Inconsistent but bolstered by power hitters like Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh.
GT: Dominant with 4 wins in 5 matches this season; Shubman Gill and Rashid Khan are key performers.
Head-to-Head
GT leads 4-1 in 5 IPL meetings. LSG’s lone win came in 2023.
Toss Prediction
Predicted Winner: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).
Likely Decision: Bat first to set a challenging total on a slowing pitch.
Probable XIs
| LSG | GT |
|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | Sai Sudharsan |
| Aiden Markram | Shubman Gill (C) |
| Nicholas Pooran | Jos Buttler (WK) |
| Rishabh Pant (C & WK) | Shahrukh Khan |
| Ayush Badoni | Rahul Tewatia |
| David Miller | Washington Sundar |
| Abdul Samad | Rashid Khan |
| Shardul Thakur | R. Sai Kishore |
| Akash Deep | Mohammed Siraj |
| Avesh Khan | Prasidh Krishna |
| Digvesh Singh Rathi | Ishant Sharma |
Key Players to Watch
| Team | Best Batter | Best Bowler |
|---|---|---|
| LSG | Nicholas Pooran (SR: 180+) | Avesh Khan (Economy: 8.2) |
| GT | Shubman Gill (Avg: 62.4) | Rashid Khan (15 wickets in 8 matches) |
Score Predictions
| Scenario | Powerplay (6 Overs) | 20-Overs Score |
|---|---|---|
| LSG Bat First | 46–53 | 162–188 |
| GT Bat First | 47–55 | 160–188 |
Winning Probability
| Team | Probability | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| GT | 55% | Strong recent form, head-to-head edge, and Rashid Khan’s spin dominance. |
| LSG | 45% | Home advantage, explosive middle order, and Avesh Khan’s death bowling. |
Final Prediction
Gujarat Titans to Clinch a Tight Win
Why GT? Superior balance with Gill’s anchoring, Rashid’s spin wizardry, and Siraj’s pace. LSG’s reliance on Pooran/Marsh could backfire if GT strikes early.
LSG’s Hope: A strong powerplay (46–53 runs) and spinners exploiting the slow track might disrupt GT’s chase .
Expected Result: GT wins by 5–10 runs or 2 wickets in hand.
