Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be eager to bounce back after their disappointing performance against Punjab Kings when they take on Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 16 of IPL 2025 on Friday, April 4, at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. With over 40,000 fans expected to be in attendance, the home side will look to correct its mistakes and put up a better show against a formidable MI squad.
LSG Seeks Redemption After Punjab Defeat
LSG’s newly-appointed mentor, Zaheer Khan, expressed his frustration after their poor outing against Punjab, particularly criticizing the pitch conditions. The team struggled to adapt to the surface, leading to a disappointing loss. This time, LSG will be more cautious as they prepare for a black-soil pitch, which historically has not been very spin-friendly.
The team is expected to tweak its playing combination, especially considering that their previous choice of four spinners and only two pacers backfired. The return of Akash Deep is a big boost, and his inclusion in the squad will strengthen their pace attack. However, the absence of the in-form Mayank Yadav, who is still recovering at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, remains a concern.
Mumbai Indians Aim for a Stronger Away Record
MI finally opened their account in IPL 2025, but their challenge now lies in overcoming their poor away record—having lost 13 out of their last 18 away matches since IPL 2023. Adjusting to the slower Lucknow pitch will be key, as they are used to the pace and bounce of the Wankhede Stadium.
What to Expect from the Pitch?
The black-soil pitch in Lucknow has seen five out of the last six IPL matches won by teams chasing. However, dew is not expected to play a role, which might influence captains’ decisions at the toss. While the ground dimensions are large, scores have risen since the 2023 ODI World Cup, but high totals are still uncommon. LSG’s struggle in the powerplay overs in their previous match will be a key area to watch.
Head-to-Head Record: LSG holds a dominant 5-1 head-to-head record over MI. The last time these teams clashed in Lucknow, LSG chased down MI’s 144/7 in the final over.
Team News and Predicted XI
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Injuries/Availability: Akash Deep has joined the squad, while Mayank Yadav is still recovering.
- Tactics & Match-Ups: Avesh Khan has troubled Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya in previous encounters, and Ravi Bishnoi has dismissed both Rohit (3 times in 6 innings) and Suryakumar Yadav (3 times in 7 innings).
LSG Probable XII: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (C & WK), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav/Akash Deep
Mumbai Indians (MI)
- Injuries/Availability: No reported injuries.
- Tactics & Match-Ups: MI might bowl spin early to Rishabh Pant, as he has struggled against it this season (17 runs at a strike rate of 65.38, including two dismissals in 13 balls).
MI Probable XII: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Will Jacks/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Vignesh Puthur/Satyanarayana Raju
Key Stats & Trivia
- Three out of the six sub-150 totals defended in IPL since 2022 have been against LSG.
- Avesh Khan has struggled at this venue, taking only three wickets in five matches at an average of 48.66 and a strike rate of 34.
Match Details
📅 Date: Friday, April 4, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:30 PM IST
🏟️ Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
LSG vs MI Live Streaming and Broadcast Details
Cricket fans across the globe can catch the live action of LSG vs MI through various platforms:
- India: Star Sports Network, Disney+ Hotstar
- Pakistan: Tapmad TV
- United States: Willow TV
- United Kingdom: Sky Sports Cricket
- Australia: Fox Sports
Viewers traveling abroad can use VPN services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN to access their preferred streaming platforms.
