As the IPL 2025 league stage inches toward its climactic finish, Match 59 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants promises high drama under the lights of the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on May 9. With playoff spots hanging in the balance, both teams walk into this fixture with vastly different momentum and equations—but equally high stakes.
RCB Chase Perfection and Playoff Glory
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, this season has been a roadshow of dominance. Under a new captain, they’ve stitched together six wins in six away games—a flawless record that has placed them within touching distance of the playoffs. One more win and they’ll officially book their ticket to the knockouts, and there’s something poetic about the possibility of doing so in Lucknow—a city known for its hospitality, now potentially hosting RCB’s coronation.
What makes RCB’s journey so compelling is their evolution as a unit. From their vulnerable middle-order in early matches to a now well-rounded side firing on all cylinders, they’ve transformed into a team that wins as a collective. While injuries have occasionally disrupted their combinations—such as Devdutt Padikkal being ruled out with a hamstring injury and Josh Hazlewood’s shoulder niggle—they’ve coped admirably. Mayank Agarwal is expected to slot in as Padikkal’s replacement, while Phil Salt, recovering from fever, remains a game-time call.
RCB’s likely XI:
Jacob Bethell, Virat Kohli, Mayank Agarwal, Rajat Patidar (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood/Lungi Ngidi, Yash Dayal, Suyash Sharma
For captain Rajat Patidar, this match might offer redemption. After a blazing start to the season, his recent form has dipped—just 30 runs in the last four matches. But he’ll draw confidence from the memory of his iconic 49-ball century against LSG in the 2022 Eliminator.
LSG Fight for Survival
On the other side, Lucknow Super Giants are skating on thin ice. With 10 points from 11 games, they are in must-win territory. Even a clean sweep in their final three fixtures may not be enough, as net run rate and other match results could still keep them out of the top four.
What’s more worrying is their form. LSG are coming off three consecutive defeats and appear to have lost the edge that powered them last season. Their once-lethal pace attack has looked ordinary. Despite mid-season reinforcements, LSG’s fast bowling unit remains the most expensive in the league (economy rate of 10.64) and the second-worst in average (38.03). Add to that the patchy form of captain Rishabh Pant—who currently holds the lowest average and strike-rate among batters with at least 60 balls faced in IPL 2025—and things look grim.
LSG’s likely XI:
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (wk/c), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Akash Maharaj Singh/Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, Prince Yadav
One tactical decision under scrutiny is how LSG use young speedster Mayank Yadav. Last season, he excelled as a first-change bowler, but this year’s new-ball experiments have cost them dearly—Mayank has conceded 100 runs in just 8 overs. Against a solid RCB batting lineup, LSG will need to rethink how and when they unleash him.
LSG vs RCB Venue & Match Conditions
The Ekana Stadium in Lucknow brings its own intrigue. With long boundaries and spin-friendly dimensions, the pitch’s nature—red or black soil—could be decisive. So far, chasing sides have won four out of five games here, so the captain winning the toss is likely to opt to bowl first.
Head-to-head: RCB lead 3-2 over LSG, a psychological edge that may come in handy.
LSG vs RCB Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
LSG vs RCB Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Select channels with Hindi, English, regional language options)
LSG vs RCB Live Streaming: JioCinema (free in India across all languages and devices)
For RCB, it’s simple: win and seal the playoff spot with a perfect away record. For LSG, a win only keeps them afloat in the playoff race, dependent on further wins and favorable outcomes elsewhere.
As the tournament nears its crescendo, this clash could shape not just the immediate fate of both teams but also tilt the playoff balance in a tightly contested league.
