Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 13th match of IPL 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1, with the action set to begin at 7:30 PM IST. LSG have made a solid start to their campaign, currently sitting third on the points table after securing a five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Nicholas Pooran was the standout performer with a blistering 70-run knock, while Shardul Thakur’s four-wicket haul proved crucial in restricting Hyderabad’s total.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings are placed fifth after an impressive win in their opening match against Gujarat Titans. Shreyas Iyer led from the front with a magnificent unbeaten 97, guiding Punjab to an 11-run victory. With momentum on their side, PBKS will be eager to build on their strong start.
WATCH – Debut Hero Ashwani Kumar Reveals His Pre-Match Lunch: Just One Banana!
Historically, Lucknow has dominated this fixture, winning three out of the four encounters between the two teams. However, Punjab will be keen to change that record and maintain their winning momentum. With both sides eyeing another crucial win, fans can expect an intense battle under the lights in Lucknow.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Akash Deep appears to be making steady progress in his recovery from a back injury. While head coach Justin Langer rated his fitness at 90 percent last week, Shahbaz Ahmad remained cautious about his teammate’s availability on match eve. However, all signs suggest that Akash Deep is unlikely to feature against PBKS.
Meanwhile, Yuzvendra Chahal’s struggles against left-handers in recent seasons will be under scrutiny, especially against Nicholas Pooran. The leg-spinner will have the advantage of large boundary dimensions, which could help contain Pooran, who hasn’t fared well at this venue. His strike rate here has dipped to 128, significantly lower than his usual numbers.
Probable XII: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Shahbaz Ahmed, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Lockie Ferguson holds a strong record against two key LSG batters—Nicholas Pooran (17 balls, 20 runs, 4 dismissals) and Rishabh Pant (36 balls, 37 runs, 3 dismissals). This could make him a viable replacement for Amatullah Omarzai in the upcoming game.
Probable XII: Prabhsimran Singh (w), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Lockie Ferguson/Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh (c), Shreyas Iyer, Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell (vc), Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Shardul Thakur
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Nicholas Pooran (c), Rishabh Pant, Mitchell Marsh, Shreyas Iyer (vc), Shashank Singh, Glenn Maxwell, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Arshdeep Singh, Shardul Thakur
