The Lucknow Super Giants are gearing up to kick off their IPL 2025 journey, facing off against the Delhi Capitals. This eagerly anticipated matchup is slated for Monday, March 24th, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
As the new season unfolds, Lucknow is embarking on an exciting chapter. After being under the leadership of KL Rahul for their initial three seasons, the team now welcomes Rishabh Pant, the former captain of the Delhi Capitals, as their new skipper for IPL 2025.
Last season, in a headline-grabbing auction, Lucknow made Pant the highest-paid player in IPL history. The team is pinning its hopes on him to lead them to a historic first title triumph. Having reached the playoffs in their first two outings but missing out last season, they’re keen to start this campaign with a victory. So, who can we expect to see on the field for Lucknow in this opening game against DC?
For this crucial match, the anticipated opening duo for the Super Giants is Arshin Kulkarni and Mitchell Marsh. Though Aiden Markram is another viable option for the top order, LSG might hold off his inclusion until their Indian pace bowlers fully recover from injuries.
Last season, Kulkarni had limited opportunities with the bat but shined on the domestic stage, topping the run charts for Maharashtra in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2024. Meanwhile, Marsh brings invaluable experience and, focusing solely on his batting due to back issues, he’ll be key in getting LSG off to a strong start.
Moving to the middle order, Rishabh Pant will be a pivotal figure as captain and key batsman, stepping into a new team environment outside of Delhi for the first time in his IPL career. After a dip in his standing within India’s limited-overs squads, he’s determined to make his mark this season, just as he did as DC’s top scorer last year.
Nicholas Pooran also stands out as a linchpin in the lineup, capable of turning any game on its head with a masterful performance. LSG will rely heavily on his explosive ability throughout the season.
Ayush Badoni offers versatility in anchoring innings or going big when needed, boasting a solid record over his 42 IPL games with a strike rate surpassing 130. Alongside him, David Miller and Abdul Samad will add depth and firepower to the batting order. Miller, especially, is a seasoned IPL campaigner, well remembered for his pivotal role in the Gujarat Titans’ title win in 2022.
Shahbaz Ahmed stacks the deck further as an all-rounder, having impressed with both bat and ball for Sunrisers Hyderabad previously.
In the bowling department, LSG faces a challenge with several key players like Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep sidelined due to injuries. As a solution, they’re likely to field Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Shamar Joseph as their pace duo, while Ravi Bishnoi will helm the spin attack, aiming to stabilize and harness the team’s bowling strength.
With this balanced, albeit slightly unconventional lineup, Lucknow Super Giants are poised to make a strong statement at the start of their IPL 2025 adventure.
