Historically, Lucknow Super Giants have held a slight edge over Punjab Kings, with three wins compared to PBKS’s one.
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is set to be the battleground tonight at 7:30 PM IST as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) lock horns with Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 13th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
Both teams enter this contest riding high on the momentum of recent victories. After an initial setback, LSG demonstrated their resilience by bouncing back strongly against last year’s runners-up, SunRisers Hyderabad. Similarly, Punjab Kings will be brimming with confidence following their triumph over Gujarat Titans. This sets the stage for a compelling encounter between two in-form sides.
Kal ka jashn, Ekana mein 🏠 pic.twitter.com/0UUVYNSKqj
However, not all is smooth sailing for the Super Giants. Rishabh Pant, who made headlines as the most expensive player in IPL history, has faced a challenging start to his LSG career. A duck off six balls in his debut match was followed by a run-a-ball 15, placing him under early scrutiny. The conditions in Lucknow, often favouring bowlers, are unlikely to provide immediate respite. Adding to LSG’s concerns, Nicholas Pooran, despite his experience with the franchise, has historically struggled at this venue, averaging below 25 with a highest score of just 42 in 14 appearances.
Considering PBKS’s predominantly right-handed batting lineup, LSG might be tempted to strategically introduce a left-arm spinner into their attack. Shahbaz Ahmed or Manimaran Siddharth could potentially replace Abdul Samad in the playing XI. Conversely, with the Ekana Cricket Stadium generally offering assistance to spinners, Punjab Kings might consider bolstering their spin department by including an additional slow bowler like Harpreet Brar to support the established duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Glenn Maxwell. This tactical shift could, unfortunately, mean Vijaykumar Vyshak, who delivered an impressive spell of death bowling as an Impact Player against the Titans, might have to make way. Meanwhile, Maxwell will be eager to make his mark in his third stint with PBKS after a golden duck in the previous match. He will be looking to capitalize on his favourable track record against LSG bowlers Avesh Khan and Ravi Bishnoi.
The pitch for this encounter is described as a red-soil surface, positioned slightly off-center on the square. This configuration could present a challenge for bowlers defending the shorter boundary. However, the Ekana Stadium is recognized as one of the larger grounds in India, which should offer some comfort to the bowling units in this era of Impact Players. Encouragingly, dew has not been a significant factor in the days leading up to the match, and similar conditions are expected tonight. The weather forecast predicts fair conditions for the game.
Head-to-Head:
Historically, Lucknow Super Giants have held a slight edge over Punjab Kings, with three wins compared to PBKS’s one. When these two teams last met in Lucknow, which was also LSG’s first home game of the previous season, the hosts emerged victorious by 21 runs. Interestingly, LSG’s home record shows room for improvement, with only seven wins in 13 completed matches. With five of their next seven fixtures scheduled in Lucknow, the Super Giants will be keen to address this and establish a stronger home advantage.
Where-to-Watch:
TV: Star Sports Network
OTT: JioHotstar
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IPL 2025 LSG vs PBKS: Match preview, head-to-head and streaming details – SportsMint Media
