It has been a clinical tournament so far for RCB. They have been excellent on the road, and after two straight wins at the Chinnaswamy, they have improved their home record as well. They are now one step away from becoming the first team to qualify for the playoffs. But that’s not all—no team has ever won all their away league games in a season, and RCB is one step away from achieving that as well.

They have a glorious chance to make it seven out of seven in away games against a beleaguered Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) side, who are coming into this game on the back of three successive defeats and four losses in the last five games. With five wins in 11 games and a net run rate of -0.469, LSG’s chances of making it to the top four are slim, and a defeat at home will knock them out of the tournament completely.

LSG’s Struggles: Poor Form from Key Players

After four wins in the first six games, not much has gone right for LSG. Their top three batters, who formed the bedrock of the line-up, have struggled. Mitchell Marsh had 265 runs in the first five matches at a strike rate of 180, but in his next five games, he has scored 113 at a strike of 118. Nicholas Pooran‘s scores have also declined, and while Aiden Markram has two fifties in his last five innings, he has been inconsistent.

With Rishabh Pant also in wretched form, LSG needs to find a batting fix quickly against an RCB attack, which has been in decent form.

RCB have fewer problems to deal with, although injuries to key players have been an issue. Josh Hazlewood (shoulder niggle) and Phil Salt (viral infection) missed RCB’s previous game against Chennai Super Kings. Since then, a hamstring injury has ended Devdutt Padikkal‘s season, with Mayank Agarwal replacing him.

Form guide:

• Lucknow Super Giants: LLLWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
• Royal Challengers Bengaluru: WWWWL

The Big Question: The No. 3 Conundrum for RCB

Padikkal had been crucial to RCB’s success this year. Losing him means not only a batter in form but also a left-hander. Should they replace him with Mayank Agarwal or go with a left-hand batter at No. 3? Left-hand options include Manoj Bhandage or promoting Krunal Pandya or Jacob Bethell.

Who should bat at No. 3 for RCB in Padikkal’s absence?

• Mayank Agarwal
• Krunal Pandya
• Manoj Bhandage
• Jacob Bethell

In the Spotlight: Nicholas Pooran and Krunal Pandya

After his exploits in the first half of the season, Nicholas Pooran‘s returns have seen a sharp decline. Pooran recorded four fifties in the first six matches and held the orange cap at one point. However, his recent scores have been 6, 27, 9, 11, and 8, coinciding with LSG’s poor form. While his returns have diminished, Pooran is still striking at 200.98, which is the highest for any batter (minimum 100 balls faced) this IPL. He also has a strike rate of 264 against spin this season, which could set up an exciting contest against the RCB spinners Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma.

Krunal Pandya will be up against his old side, where he stayed for three years and was also captain for a few games. He will have a point to prove after not being retained by LSG. Krunal has been critical to RCB’s fortunes this year. He is already having his best season in terms of wickets (14). More importantly, all of his wickets have come in RCB’s wins. Along with Suyash, Krunal has kept things tight in the middle overs while also delivering important powerplay overs by varying his speeds.

Team News: Will Salt and Hazlewood Be Back?

Josh Hazlewood and Phil Salt missed RCB’s last game, and it remains to be seen whether they will return for the LSG clash. Salt trained on Thursday evening, and if he is fit, he could come in for Jacob Bethell, while Hazlewood is expected to come in place of Lungi Ngidi. RCB also needs to find a replacement for Padikkal at No. 3.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (probable):

• Jacob Bethell/Phil Salt
• Virat Kohli
• Mayank Agarwal/Manoj Bhandage
• Rajat Patidar
• Jitesh Sharma (wk)
• Tim David
• Romario Shepherd
• Krunal Pandya
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar
• Lungi Ngidi/Josh Hazlewood
• Yash Dayal
• Suyash Sharma

Lucknow Super Giants (probable):

• Aiden Markram
• Mitchell Marsh
• Nicholas Pooran
• Rishabh Pant (capt & wk)
• David Miller
• Ayush Badoni
• Abdul Samad
• Akash Singh
• Avesh Khan
• Mayank Yadav
• Prince Yadav/Ravi Bishnoi
• Digvesh Rathi

Stats and Trivia: Kohli on the Cusp of Another Record

• Krunal has a terrific record against Markram in the IPL: three dismissals in eight balls, with an average of just 1.33.
• Virat Kohli has scored seven half-centuries in IPL 2025, each of which has come in a win. He also holds the record for most IPL fifties overall (62), alongside David Warner.
• Pooran is on top of the list for the most sixes hit this IPL: 34.
• RCB batters have the best run rate in death overs: 12.41. On the other hand, RCB bowlers have been the joint-most economical in the death overs, going at just 10.22 per over.
• LSG bowlers have the worst powerplay economy rate in IPL 2025: 10.54.

Pitch and Conditions: Black Soil Pitch in Lucknow

Pitch no. 5, a black soil surface, will be used for this game, which could see the spinners come into play a little more. These two teams have faced each other at the Ekana just once in a low-scoring thriller, where RCB defended 126 in IPL 2023. It is expected to be slightly cloudy, with no threat of rain. The temperature is expected to hover around the mid to late 30-degree mark on the Celsius scale.

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“Definitely [our total] wasn’t enough, we were like 20-25 runs short but that’s part and parcel of the game,” Pant admitted post-match. “It’s our first home game, so we’re still assessing the conditions.”

LSG’s Batting Struggles Continue

Opting for a slower pitch at home backfired for LSG as PBKS, led by Shreyas Iyer, made early inroads. The hosts lost quick wickets, slumping to 35 for 3 in the fifth over, with Pant himself managing just 2 off 5 balls. They ended the powerplay at 39 for 3, their slowest start in this IPL.

“It’s always tough to get a big total when you lose early wickets, but that’s how the game goes,” Pant reflected. “Each player is trying to take the game forward.”

Defensive Bowling Tactics Fail to Deliver

When defending their total, LSG turned to spin early. Digvesh Rathi bowled two overs, dismissing Priyansh Arya, while Ravi Bishnoi was attacked by Prabhsimran Singh, conceding 15 runs in one over.

“The idea was to use a slower wicket,” Pant explained. “We expected the pitch to stop a little, but PBKS played better on the day. We will learn from this and move forward.”

Iyer’s Leadership and Wadhera’s Praise

Prabhsimran Singh set the tone with a blistering 69 off 34 balls, before Iyer completed the chase with an unbeaten 52 off 30 balls. Nehal Wadhera, who finished 43 not out, credited Iyer’s leadership.

“All credit goes to him for captaining us so well,” Wadhera said. “The way he boosts our confidence and tells us to ‘play your natural game’ really helps.”

PBKS coach Ricky Ponting also received praise from Wadhera. “He’s one of the best coaches I have ever worked with. He only speaks positively, which boosts confidence automatically.”

With two losses in three games, LSG now face a crucial stretch of home matches to find their rhythm and turn their season around.

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PBKS’ Early Dominance

PBKS struck early when Arshdeep Singh dismissed Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck, his first ball stopping on him and seaming away to induce a catch to Marco Jansen at short third. Meanwhile, Lockie Ferguson, usually deployed with the older ball, was introduced early to target Nicholas Pooran, whom he had dismissed four times in 17 T20 balls before this game. However, Ferguson bowled just three deliveries to Pooran before removing Aiden Markram for 28 off 18 balls via an inside edge.

LSG’s Middle-Order Resistance

With Rishabh Pant and Pooran at the crease, PBKS turned to Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell struck again, dismissing Pant for the third time in four IPL innings. The most expensive player in IPL history at INR 27 crore, Pant has struggled this season, scoring just 17 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 65.38.

Despite wickets tumbling, Pooran continued his aggressive approach, smashing Maxwell for consecutive fours. His battle with Yuzvendra Chahal was captivating—Pooran initially countered Chahal’s wrong’uns, but the leg-spinner eventually had him holing out for 44 off 30 balls. When Jansen dismissed David Miller for 19 off 16, LSG found themselves at 119 for 5 in the 16th over. Badoni and Samad launched a counterattack, adding 47 off 21 balls, but Arshdeep struck twice in the final over to keep LSG under 180.

Prabhsimran’s Explosive Start

Unlike the first innings, where the pitch played slow, the ball skidded onto the bat in PBKS’ chase. Prabhsimran Singh took full advantage, ramping Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan for six and four within the first two overs. Captain Pant responded by introducing Digvesh Rathi, who created a chance with his second ball, but Marsh dropped a catch at slip. Rathi, however, removed Priyansh Arya for 8, caught at mid-on.

Prabhsimran continued his assault, taking on Ravi Bishnoi in the final over of the powerplay with powerful slog-sweeps over mid-on and square leg. His fifty came via a tucked single, and he greeted M Siddarth, LSG’s Impact Player, with a stylish switch-hit boundary.

LSG needed something special to break Prabhsimran’s rhythm, and they found it in a relay catch between Badoni and Bishnoi near the boundary. Prabhsimran departed for 69 off 34 balls, leaving PBKS needing 62 off 59 balls.

Shreyas Iyer Completes PBKS’ Win

With the game firmly in PBKS’ grasp, Shreyas Iyer played a composed innings, forging a 67-run unbroken partnership with Nehal Wadhera. Iyer’s finishing touch came with a six, sealing an eight-wicket victory with over three overs to spare.

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Late fireworks from Abdul Samad and Ayush Badoni propelled Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a competitive 171 for 7 on a tricky red-soil pitch after Punjab Kings (PBKS) opted to bowl first in IPL 2025.

LSG faced early trouble as Arshdeep Singh, Lockie Ferguson (replacing Azmatullah Omarzai), and Glenn Maxwell tore through their top order. At the end of the powerplay, LSG struggled at 39 for 3, with captain Rishabh Pant falling cheaply to Maxwell for 2 off 5 balls. Lucknow Super Giants Team Page However, a late surge in the final six overs, which yielded 63 runs, helped LSG recover.

While Badoni anchored the innings with 41 off 33 balls, Samad immediately shifted gears, smashing 27 off 12 balls, including two sixes and two fours. The highlight of Samad’s knock was a stunning reverse scoop off Arshdeep for four in the 18th over, which cost PBKS 20 runs. Arshdeep, however, bounced back to remove both Badoni and Samad in the final over, but the duo had already done enough damage to bolster LSG’s total.

Arshdeep Singh made an early impact, dismissing Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck. Aiden Markram, LSG’s other opener, looked promising with 28 off 18 balls before Ferguson knocked him over via an inside edge. PBKS then brought Maxwell into the attack against Pant, a move that paid off Punjab Kings Official Website as the left-hander fell cheaply.

A compelling battle ensued between Nicholas Pooran and Yuzvendra Chahal. Pooran initially dominated, carving two boundaries off Chahal’s wrong’uns. However, Chahal had the last laugh, deceiving Pooran with a loopy googly to dismiss him for 44 off 30 balls. At 89 for 4 in the 12th over, LSG needed a strong finish, and Badoni and Samad stepped up to push their total past 170.

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Zaheer is taking over the mentor role that Gautam Gambhir left last year when he moved to coach the Kolkata Knight Riders and led them to the IPL title in 2024. Gambhir is now the head coach for India’s cricket team.

Zaheer’s previous job with Mumbai Indians involved being the director of cricket and later working on their global development. LSG currently has no bowling coach since Morne Morkel left to join Gambhir’s coaching staff.

Zaheer Khan is also expected to help with finding new talent and player development during the off-season.

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Before coaching, Zaheer played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Delhi Daredevils in the IPL. Over 10 seasons, he played 100 matches, took 102 wickets, and had an economy rate of 7.58. His last IPL game was in 2017, where he captained the Delhi Daredevils before retiring from all cricket.

LSG’s head coach is Justin Langer, who took over from Andy Flower before the last IPL, and his assistants are Lance Klusener and Adam Voges.

Swapnil, who’s 33, first played in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab in 2016, which is now Punjab Kings. Later, he joined Lucknow Super Giants in 2023.

He started playing for Baroda when he was only 14. In the 2017-18 season, he was their top scorer with 565 runs in six games, averaging 62.77.

During the 2014-15 Syed Mushtaq Ali season, Swapnil impressed by taking 6 wickets for 19 runs against Saurashtra, including Sheldon Jackson and Cheteshwar Pujara.

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Swapnil Singh played for Uttarakhand in the 2021-22 season but didn’t make much impact.

While with Lucknow Super Giants, he didn’t get many chances to play due to other spinners like Ravi Bishnoi being preferred.

RCB trusted Swapnil and it paid off as he contributed to their potential win against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Interestingly, Swapnil was considered for India’s U19 World Cup squad in 2008, led by Virat Kohli, but didn’t make it. Now, he plays alongside Kohli and has been effective with both bat and ball.

Even though he’s nearing the end of his career, Swapnil keeps showcasing his talent, and RCB appreciates his contributions.

At the recent IPL 2024 mini-auction held on December 19, there was an exciting twist as Manimaran Siddharth made a remarkable comeback. Previously sidelined due to injury concerns, Siddharth had faced setbacks while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals in the IPL. However, he kept working hard in Tamil Nadu’s cricketing circuits and showcased his talent in the TNPL, which kept him in the spotlight.

With a mix of anticipation and nervousness, the 25-year-old awaited his fate at the auction. Lucknow Super Giants showed a keen interest, sparking a bidding war that also involved Royal Challengers Bangalore. Starting with a base price of Rs 20 lakh, M Siddharth’s luck changed dramatically as he secured an impressive deal of Rs 2.4 crore from Lucknow.

Expressing his relief and joy, Siddharth shared, “I was nervous, especially the night before the auction. It’s a big deal to see your name on the auction list. I kept wondering if I would get picked because I really wanted to be part of the IPL this time. I missed out the last two years. I told myself I had to make it this time. Success brings motivation, and I felt this was the right opportunity for me to move forward. I’m really glad it happened.”

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M Siddharth aspires to be a powerplay maverick

M Siddharth has been working hard to improve his skills, especially after being advised by Tamil Nadu captain Dinesh Karthik to bowl during powerplays in 2019. As a left-arm leg-spinner, he has made significant progress since then. Over the past four years, he has become known for his ability to restrict opposing batters, both during and after the powerplay.

“I’ve been putting in a lot of effort over the past couple of years. My goal was always to make an impact wherever I played. I saw the TNPL as a great opportunity to do that. When I started bowling in the powerplay, I performed well, and I had a feeling that something good was going to happen,” Siddharth said.

In his first-ever IPL match for Lucknow Super Giants, young fast bowler Mayank Yadav left a mark with his impressive performance. During the 12th over against Punjab Kings, Mayank bowled a really fast delivery, clocking at 155.8 kmph, which troubled Shikhar Dhawan. Despite being just 21 years old, Mayank showed good form, taking three crucial wickets including Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, and Jitesh Sharma.

Mayank was initially bought by LSG in the 2022 auction for Rs 20 lakh, but due to an injury, he was replaced by Arpit Guleria. However, Mayank’s talent shone through on his debut. He represents Delhi in domestic cricket and has shown promise with his performance in T20 and List A matches, taking a total of 46 wickets in 27 matches.

Watch the Video Of Mayank Yadav:

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In an interview after the match, Mayank expressed his excitement about his debut and admitted to feeling nervous before the game. He credited his success to sticking to his pace and aiming accurately. Mayank also mentioned that despite facing setbacks like injuries, he’s determined to achieve his goals in cricket.

Mayank’s impressive bowling helped Lucknow Super Giants secure their first win of the IPL 2024 season against Punjab Kings. With a total score of 199/8, boosted by contributions from players like Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran, LSG managed to defend their score successfully. Punjab Kings, missing the services of Liam Livingstone due to injury, fell short and ended their innings at 178/5.