Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are set to play their first home game of the IPL 2025 season at the BRSABV Ekana Stadium on Tuesday, 1st March, facing Punjab Kings (PBKS). Both teams have registered a win in their opening two matches and will be keen to gain early momentum in the tournament. While LSG bounced back from an opening defeat against Delhi Capitals with a five-wicket victory over SunRisers Hyderabad, Punjab started strong, securing an 11-run win over Gujarat Titans.
Lucknow’s victory against SRH was powered by a brilliant 70-run knock from Nicholas Pooran and a match-winning four-wicket haul from Shardul Thakur. Meanwhile, Punjab’s high-profile auction picks justified their price tags in their opening match, with skipper Shreyas Iyer anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 97, while Arshdeep Singh delivered a crucial spell, taking two wickets.
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With these intense individual battles on the cards, the LSG vs PBKS clash promises to be a thrilling contest as both teams aim to solidify their positions in IPL 2025. As both teams look for consecutive wins, three key battles could shape the outcome of this contest.
#1 Nicholas Pooran vs Marco Jansen
Nicholas Pooran has been LSG’s most destructive batter so far, smashing 75 and 70 runs at strike rates exceeding 250 in both matches. However, he faces a tough challenge in Marco Jansen. The South African pacer has troubled Pooran in previous encounters, dismissing him once in just five deliveries while conceding only three runs. Punjab will bank on Jansen’s ability to unsettle the in-form batter early.
#2 Shreyas Iyer vs Ravi Bishnoi
Shreyas Iyer’s leadership and batting were instrumental in PBKS’ opening victory, with his unbeaten 97 guiding Punjab to a solid total. However, his struggles against leg-spinners are well-documented. Over the years, leg-break bowlers have dismissed him seven times in 22 IPL games, with his strike rate against them dropping to 128. LSG’s young leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who has already taken three wickets this season, will be eager to exploit this weakness and put pressure on Iyer.
#3 Mitchell Marsh vs Arshdeep Singh
Apart from Pooran, Mitchell Marsh has been a crucial performer for LSG, scoring a quickfire 72 off 36 against DC and following it up with a 52 off 31 against SRH. Punjab’s best bowler against Gujarat, Arshdeep Singh, will be key in stopping him. While Arshdeep has conceded 25 runs in 10 deliveries to Marsh in past encounters, he also managed to dismiss him last season. If he can repeat that success, Punjab will have a good chance of controlling the game.
