In the 61st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will lock horns against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) tonight, i.e., May 19, at 7:30 PM at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
LSG had high hopes for this season, especially following their headline-making acquisition of Rishabh Pant during the auction for a whopping INR 27 crore. It was interpreted as a statement of intent, a transition towards a new, more aggressive style of cricket. However, that promise has not materialised.
LSG’s season has been marred by inconsistencies, particularly in the middle order. Pant’s form has been disappointing, and Nicholas Pooran‘s downturn has further exacerbated their problems. Their inability to finish innings has left the team vulnerable, with under-pressure youngsters Abdul Samad and Ayush Badoni frequently tasked with damage control at the end. To make matters worse, they have sustained injuries. Mayank Yadav, a speed phenom, only played two games before being sidelined for the season due to an injury. Will O’Rourke was brought in as his replacement, but has failed to create a lasting impression. David Miller has additionally failed to deliver. The lack of seasoned firepower in crunch moments has cost them dearly, and their excessive reliance on younger players has been exposed. LSG’s difficulties have not been restricted to the batting order. Their bowling team has also failed, particularly on the powerplay, where they have the poorest economy rate in the league. Shardul Thakur has drifted into the shadows, Akash Deep has struggled to find his rhythm since returning from injury, and Mayank Yadav’s early departure has left a vacuum that remains unfilled. Despite the circumstances, uncapped leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi has been a rare bright spot in an otherwise dismal attack, providing control and flair. With only three games remaining, LSG’s playoff aspirations are dangling by a thread. They must win all of them while also hoping that other outcomes work in their favour.
Coming into the season, SRH were widely seen as strong contenders, determined to go one better than last year’s runners-up finish. With that ambition in mind, they assembled a squad built to play bold, aggressive cricket. However, things haven’t gone to plan. With just three games remaining, Hyderabad are now scrapping to avoid the wooden spoon, a dramatic fall for a side that started the season with title aspirations. To make matters worse, Travis Head will miss a crucial stretch of games, arriving in India only on Monday after testing positive for COVID-19 in Australia. His absence will force a reshuffle at the top of the order, with Ishan Kishan likely to open alongside Abhishek Sharma. Key players who were central to last season’s success have struggled to replicate their form. Nitish Kumar Reddy, one of the franchise’s key retentions, has endured a classic second-season slump. Heinrich Klaasen and captain Pat Cummins have been far less impactful this time around. Rookie Zeeshan Ansari leads their spin attack with six wickets, but the collective economy rate of 9.9 is the worst among all teams. For a team that began the season with dreams of lifting the trophy, SRH now find themselves battling through a storm of problems. Unless they find quick fixes, their campaign could end not in celebration, but in deep disappointment.
Head-to-Head:
LSG and SRH have squared off five times in the IPL, with Lucknow leading 4-1. The two teams last clashed in the IPL this season, with Lucknow winning comfortably in Hyderabad. Both teams faced each other once at the Ekana Stadium, with LSG winning.
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