Captain: Rishabh Pant
Coach: Justin Langer
Home Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana International Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Best Finish: Eliminator (2022 & 2023)
Last Season: 7th
Key Stats
PowerPlay Struggles
8.10 – Since 2023, Lucknow Super Giants’ run rate during the PowerPlay has been the lowest among all teams. Despite this, the management did not address the issue at the IPL 2025 auction. Unless they take a bold approach by promoting Nicholas Pooran or Ayush Badoni, the top-order options remain limited to Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Mitch Marsh, and Arshin Kulkarni.
Among them, Marsh has the highest PowerPlay strike rate in the IPL (140). However, to accommodate both Pooran and David Miller in the XI, only two of the three overseas batters can fit into the top order. Given Markram’s underwhelming PowerPlay strike rate of 90, he is the likeliest to be left out.
This leaves the team relying on the 20-year-old Kulkarni, who has played just two IPL matches, to exceed expectations.
Middle-Over Spin Challenge
123.61 – Lucknow’s left-heavy middle order could struggle against left-arm wrist spinners and right-arm off-spinners. Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, and David Miller have a combined strike rate of 123.61 against these types of bowlers, significantly lower than their combined strike rate of 155 against pacers.
This is a major challenge at the Ekana International Cricket Stadium, where spinners have dominated. Since 2023, slow bowlers at Lucknow’s home venue have conceded just 6.41 runs per over. Their control is particularly evident in the middle overs (7-15), where batters have managed a strike rate of only 116.23.
With Pooran, Pant, and Miller likely occupying positions four, five, and six, opposing teams could use spin pressure in the middle overs to stifle LSG’s scoring. If both the top and middle order struggle against spin, Lucknow’s batting prospects could be severely impacted.
Death-Over Specialist
9.25 – Since 2023, Avesh Khan has maintained an economy rate of 9.25 in death overs (16-20). Among pacers who have bowled at least 90 deliveries in this phase, only Jasprit Bumrah and Matheesha Pathirana have performed better. Additionally, 15 of Avesh’s 27 wickets over the past two seasons have come during the death overs. Only three pacers boast a lower boundary percentage than his 19.21% in this phase.
Despite being traded to Rajasthan Royals last season, Avesh’s effectiveness at the death has convinced LSG to bring him back. With Mohsin Khan and Mayank Yadav set to lead the attack in the PowerPlay, Avesh is likely to be deployed primarily in the latter half of the innings.
Predicted Playing XI
Top Order
1. Matthew Breetzke
2. Arshin Kulkarni
3. Mitchell Marsh
Middle Order & All-Rounders
4. Nicholas Pooran
5. Rishabh Pant (c/wk)
6. David Miller
7. Ayush Badoni
8. Shahbaz Ahmed
Bowlers
9. Ravi Bishnoi
10. Avesh Khan
11. Mohsin Khan
Impact Player: Arshin Kulkarni / Mayank Yadav
Final Thoughts
Lucknow Super Giants must address its slow starts, improve its middle-over spin play, and maximise Avesh Khan’s death-over efficiency. Will it finally break past the Eliminator stage this season?
