The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 continues to thrill cricket fans as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 13th match of the season. Scheduled to be played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 1, both teams will be looking to build momentum with their second victory in the tournament.
With both teams coming off high-scoring encounters and thrilling performances, this fixture is set to be an electrifying battle. Will LSG’s powerful middle order continue its dominance, or will PBKS’s explosive batting lineup outshine their opponents? Let’s delve into the key aspects of this much-awaited match.
LSG’s Road to Redemption After a Mixed Start
LSG had a rollercoaster start to IPL 2025. Their campaign opener against Delhi Capitals ended in heartbreak as they failed to defend 209 runs, despite a strong start. However, they made an emphatic comeback in their second match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where they secured a crucial victory.
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Nicholas Pooran was the hero of the last game, smashing 70 off just 26 balls, while Mitchell Marsh’s 52-run knock provided much-needed stability.
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Rishabh Pant, captaining the side, has struggled so far with scores of 0 and 15, but he will be keen to bounce back in this match.
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Shardul Thakur, the pace-bowling all-rounder, was the star with the ball in the last match, picking up 4 wickets, while Ravi Bishnoi will continue to play a key role in the spin department.
LSG will be looking to carry forward the momentum and clinch another win to solidify their position in the IPL 2025 points table.
PBKS Aiming to Continue Their Strong Start
On the other hand, Punjab Kings (PBKS) started their season with a record-breaking win over Gujarat Titans, posting an enormous total of 243 runs. Their batting unit looks unstoppable, with several players already making a statement.
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Shreyas Iyer played a stunning captain’s knock, scoring an unbeaten 97 off 42 balls to anchor PBKS’s innings.
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Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis provided crucial finishing blows, making PBKS a team to watch out for this season.
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Their bowling unit, led by Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh, adds further strength to the squad.
With the form they are in, PBKS will be eager to maintain their winning momentum and establish themselves as one of the strongest teams in IPL 2025.
LSG vs PBKS: Head-to-Head Record
Both teams have faced each other four times in IPL history, with LSG leading the battle.
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Total Matches Played: 4
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Lucknow Super Giants Won: 3
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Punjab Kings Won: 1
PBKS will be looking to improve their record against LSG and turn the tide in their favor.
Match Details: LSG vs PBKS, IPL 2025
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Date: April 1, 2025
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Time: 7:30 PM IST / 2:00 PM GMT
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Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Pitch Report: BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
The Ekana Stadium pitch in Lucknow is known for its balanced nature, offering something for both batters and bowlers.
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The surface assists spinners, especially as the match progresses.
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Pacers might find movement with the new ball, but slower deliveries could be effective later in the game.
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The black soil areas can grip the ball, making stroke play difficult, while the red soil sections provide bounce.
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Dew could play a crucial role, potentially favoring the team batting second.
Toss Prediction: The team winning the toss is likely to opt to bowl first to take advantage of any dew factor in the second innings.
Players to Watch Out For
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
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Nicholas Pooran – After his match-winning knock of 70 off 26 in the last game, Pooran remains a vital part of LSG’s middle order.
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Rishabh Pant – The skipper will be eager to get back in form and lead his team with the bat.
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Mitchell Marsh – A key all-rounder who has contributed significantly with both bat and ball.
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Shardul Thakur – Coming off a four-wicket haul, he will be crucial in breaking PBKS’s batting partnerships.
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Ravi Bishnoi – A go-to bowler in spin-friendly conditions, Bishnoi’s wrist spin could make a difference.
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
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Shreyas Iyer – The PBKS captain is in sublime form after his 97-run blitzkrieg in the last match.
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Glenn Maxwell – A game-changer with the bat and a handy bowler on spin-friendly pitches.
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Marcus Stoinis – Can contribute in all three departments – batting, bowling, and fielding.
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Arshdeep Singh – The left-arm pacer will look to trouble LSG’s top order with early wickets.
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Yuzvendra Chahal – An experienced spinner who can take advantage of the Ekana pitch conditions.
LSG vs PBKS Dream11 Prediction
Best Fantasy Picks
Wicketkeepers:
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Nicholas Pooran
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Rishabh Pant
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Prabhsimran Singh
Batters:
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Mitchell Marsh
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David Miller
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Shreyas Iyer
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Shashank Singh
All-rounders:
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Glenn Maxwell
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Marco Jansen
Bowlers:
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Arshdeep Singh
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Yuzvendra Chahal
Captain and Vice-Captain Choices
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Shreyas Iyer (C), Nicholas Pooran (VC)
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Shashank Singh (C), Rishabh Pant (VC)
Backup Picks
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Abdul Samad
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Shahbaz Ahmed
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Priyansh Arya
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Nehal Wadhera
Final Thoughts: Who Has the Edge?
This match promises to be a high-scoring thriller, with both teams possessing powerful batting line-ups. While PBKS boasts a more balanced squad, LSG has the advantage of home conditions and a well-settled bowling attack.
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If LSG’s spinners exploit the pitch conditions, they might have the upper hand.
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PBKS will bank on their explosive batters to set or chase a big total.
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The battle between Nicholas Pooran and Shreyas Iyer could determine the outcome of the match.
With both teams in good form, this encounter is set to be a must-watch battle in IPL 2025. Who will come out on top? Only time will tell!
Squads
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
Rishabh Pant (c & wk), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Aryan Juyal, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Arshin Kulkarni, Ayush Badoni, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, M Siddharth, Digvesh Singh, Akash Singh, Shamar Joseph, Prince Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi
Punjab Kings (PBKS)
Aaron Hardie, Arshdeep Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Glenn Maxwell, Harnoor Singh Pannu, Harpreet Brar, Josh Inglis, Kuldeep Sen, Lockie Ferguson, Marco Jansen, Marcus Stoinis, Musheer Khan, Nehal Wadhera, Prabhsimran Singh, Praveen Dubey, Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Shashank Singh, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Vishnu Vinod, Xavier Bartlett, Yash Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal
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