The IPL 2025 heats up as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) prepare to take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 70 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on May 27. With playoffs fast approaching, both teams are hungry for points, though they find themselves in contrasting positions on the points table.
LSG, currently placed seventh, has struggled for consistency, winning only six of their 13 matches so far. Their latest win came against the Gujarat Titans, where Mitchel Marsh’s valiant 117-run knock helped them to register a win by 33 runs. The pressure is now mounting on KL Rahul’s men to bounce back and stay alive despite being out of the playoff race.
RCB, on the other hand, are in fine touch, sitting comfortably in second place with eight wins. Their most recent outing was a high-voltage clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where they failed to hold their nerve to lose the game by 42 runs, owing to their poor performance from the middle-order batters despite a fiery start from Virat Kohli and Phil Salt.
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Historically, RCB lead the head-to-head battle 3-2. The Ekana pitch could be either red or black soil, but long boundaries are guaranteed, offering spinners a chance to shine. Chasing has worked here, so expect the toss-winner to opt for bowling first.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Can Lucknow Super Giants reconsider Mayank Yadav’s role in the bowling lineup? Last season, he thrived as a first or second-change bowler, but in IPL 2025, he’s been expensive with the new ball, leaking 100 runs in just eight overs across two games. A return to a more familiar role might help him regain rhythm.
Probable XII: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Akash Maharaj Singh/Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB)
Devdutt Padikkal has been ruled out with a hamstring injury. Mayank Agarwal, who brings plenty of experience and familiarity with the franchise, steps in as his replacement. Meanwhile, the availability of Josh Hazlewood and Phil Salt remains uncertain. Hazlewood is recovering from a shoulder niggle, while Salt has been down with fever, missing the last two matches. However, the five-day gap could aid their recovery.
Rajat Patidar started the season brightly with two fifties in his first three games, but his recent form has dipped. He’ll hope to bounce back—especially against LSG, a team he once punished with a memorable 49-ball century in 2022.
Probable XII: Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarawal, Rajat Patidar(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Lungi Ngidi/Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
Fantasy XI Suggestion 1:
Nicholas Pooran, Rajat Patidar, Mayank Agarwal, Mitchell Marsh, Ayush Badoni, Jacob Bethell (vc), Romario Shephard, Aiden Markram (c), Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma,, Avesh Khan
Fantasy XI Suggestion 2:
Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Mitchell Marsh (vice-captain), Virat Kohli (c), Tim David, Romario Shephard, Krunal Pandya, Avesh Khan, Lungi Ngidi, Suyash Sharma, Yash Dayal
