LSG vs SRH IPL 2025 Preview: The pressure is sky-high as the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) prepare to face off against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 61 of IPL 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. For LSG, it’s do-or-die. A loss means curtains on their playoff hopes. A win? That only keeps the flicker alive.
But even if they do manage to win tonight and follow it up with two more victories, they’ll finish with 16 points—barely enough in a season where net run rates and head-to-heads are making all the difference. LSG’s current net run rate of -0.469 hangs around their neck like a weight, adding another layer of uncertainty to their campaign.
A Season of Struggles for Lucknow
This season hasn’t gone to plan for LSG. Their retained stars haven’t lived up to expectations. Ravi Bishnoi, one of their marquee Indian bowlers, has had a forgettable season—only nine wickets in ten matches at a shocking economy of 10.42. He was even dropped from the playing XI in the last match. The other blow came in the form of Mayank Yadav’s back injury. His early promise turned into a frustrating campaign, ending prematurely.
Despite this, LSG will find some confidence in the fact that they beat SRH earlier this season in Hyderabad. That win came without Mayank and with a misfiring Bishnoi, underlining their potential to pull off upsets. On a flat batting deck, Shardul Thakur’s four-wicket haul turned the tide, and Lucknow will hope to draw from that memory tonight.
SRH: A Season That Promised More
Sunrisers Hyderabad, on the other hand, are officially out of the playoff race. It was poetic, and unfortunate, that their elimination came via a rain-washed fixture—just after they’d delivered their best bowling performance of the season. But as skipper Pat Cummins has repeatedly reminded fans, this is just year one of a three-year rebuild post the mega-auction.
Their campaign, though lacking in consistency, had moments of brilliance. With Cummins set to lead Australia in the World Test Championship final just weeks after IPL 2025 wraps up, the SRH management can take heart in knowing their marquee player is hitting form at the right time.
What’s at Stake?
For LSG: Everything. For SRH: Pride, momentum, and a shot at shaping their future. The final few matches provide an opportunity to test combinations, back young talent, and lay the foundation for IPL 2026.
The conditions in Lucknow could also play a role. This will be the first game at Ekana in nearly a month, and the heat is punishing—temperatures around 40°C. The ground is massive, sixes are hard to come by, and scoring has generally been tricky. Only one 200+ total has been recorded at this venue in 10 innings this season.
Player Watch
Lucknow Super Giants
- Digvesh Rathi has emerged as one of the few bright sparks. Used across all phases of the innings, his tactical value has increased with each outing.
- Rishabh Pant (w/c) might be a big name, but his strike rate of 99.22—the lowest among batters with 100+ balls this season—has been a cause for concern.
Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Travis Head has tested positive for Covid and will arrive in India only on match day. His availability remains doubtful.
- Pat Cummins led from the front with a 3/19 in his last outing and has finally found rhythm in the Powerplay, bowling Test-match lengths to great effect.
Team News and Probable XIs
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (w/c), Abdul Samad, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Akash Singh/Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep/Shardul Thakur, Prince Yadav
- Unavailable: Mayank Yadav (injury), Shamar Joseph (not available)
- Tactical Note: Overseas slots are crowded; William O’Rourke might not get a game despite replacing Mayank.
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (w), Travis Head/Kamindu Mendis, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Sachin Baby, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Eshan Malinga
- Unavailable: Wiaan Mulder, possibly Travis Head (Covid)
- Tactical Note: Expect Cummins to take the new ball again; his lengths and early strikes could dictate the tone.
Stats to Know
- Both LSG and SRH have the worst Powerplay bowling economies—10.5 and 10.1 respectively.
- SRH’s spinners have picked the fewest wickets this season: only 10.
- LSG lead the head-to-head battle 4-1 against SRH, including a win earlier this season.
SRH vs LSG Live Streaming & Broadcast Info
SRH vs LSG Live Telecast: Star Sports Network (Select channels with Hindi, English, regional language options)
SRH vs LSG Live Streaming: JioCinema (free in India across all languages and devices)
While the odds are stacked against LSG, sport is known for its unpredictability. A spirited showing under pressure could turn heads. For SRH, it’s about redemption—playing for pride, testing depth, and setting a tone for the future. It might not be a blockbuster on paper, but with reputations and plans for 2026 on the line, expect fireworks in Lucknow.
