The IPL 2025 season is heating up, and all eyes are now on Ekana Stadium, where Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will host Punjab Kings in a high-stakes encounter. With two matches under their belt, LSG are chasing their first home win, and their newly-appointed captain Rishabh Pant is eager to turn the tide in their favour.
Rishabh Pant’s Big Test at Home
Rishabh Pant, the most expensive player in IPL history at a staggering Rs 27 crore, hasn’t had the ideal start with the bat this season. With scores of 0 and 15 in the first two matches, the explosive left-hander has been under the scanner.
But if there’s one thing we know about Pant—it’s that he rarely stays quiet for long. Tuesday’s clash gives him the perfect stage to bounce back, especially against a strong Punjab side led by his former Delhi Capitals coach, Ricky Ponting.
Pant’s captaincy debut began with a narrow 1-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals, but the team showed character in their next game, securing a thrilling five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
The credit went to Nicholas Pooran, who blasted 70 off just 23 balls, and Mitchell Marsh, who added a fiery 52 off 31 deliveries. Shardul Thakur also shone with the ball, picking up 4/34, including two crucial wickets in a single over to break SRH’s rhythm.
Still, for LSG to build real momentum, Pant must find his touch. A big knock from their captain could lift not only the scoreboard but also the team’s confidence.
Punjab Kings Look Unstoppable
On the other side, Punjab Kings have started the season on a strong note. Their captain, Shreyas Iyer, came close to breaking records with a blistering 97 not out off 42 balls against Gujarat Titans. Bought for Rs 26.75 crore, Iyer now the second most expensive IPL player is already proving his worth.
The Punjab top-order is firing on all cylinders. Shashank Singh has continued his red-hot form from last season, and Priyansh Arya made a thunderous IPL debut with 47 off 23 balls. With explosive players like Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, and Josh Inglis in the mix, Punjab’s batting looks deep and dangerous.
Their bowling, too, has been spot on. Arshdeep Singh has led the pace attack, while Vijaykumar Vyshak, used as an impact sub, impressed with his discipline at the death. Yuzvendra Chahal brings experience to their spin department, supported by Maxwell’s handy off-spin.
Spin Could Be the Deciding Factor
The Ekana Stadium in Lucknow is known to be friendly to bowlers, especially spinners and those with clever variations. The pitch has offered inconsistent results in the past, making team balance crucial.
For LSG, much depends on Ravi Bishnoi, who’s yet to hit peak form. He’ll have support from promising leg-spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi, who turned heads during the Delhi Premier League. The team also has left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed and part-time offie Aiden Markram to mix things up.
Punjab’s spin battery, led by Chahal, could also thrive on this surface. With additional options like Maxwell and Harpreet Brar, Punjab have flexibility in both pace and spin departments.
What to Expect
This face-off isn’t just about two teams; it’s a battle of high-priced captains, strategic depth, and redemption. Will Pant silence the critics and guide LSG to their first home win of IPL 2025? Or will Iyer and his power-packed Punjab unit continue their dominant run?
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) Squad
Captain: Rishabh Pant
Key Players: Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Shardul Thakur, Aiden Markram, David Miller
Spinners: Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Rathi, Shahbaz Ahmed
Pacers: Avesh Khan, Mohsin Khan, Shamar Joseph, Akash Deep
All-rounders: Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad
Full Squad: Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Aryan Juyal, Himmat Singh, Matthew Breetzke, 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 Squad
Captain: Shreyas Iyer
Key Players: Shashank Singh, Priyansh Arya, Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Arshdeep Singh
Spinners: Yuzvendra Chahal, Harpreet Brar, Glenn Maxwell
Pacers: Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Lockie Ferguson, Vijaykumar Vyshak
Full Squad: Shreyas Iyer (c), Priyansh Arya, Pyla Avinash, Harnoor Singh, Josh Inglis, Prabhsimran Singh, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Azmatullah Omarzai, Aaron Hardie, Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell, Musheer Khan, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Arshdeep Singh, Xavier Bartlett, Yuzvendra Chahal, Praveen Dubey, Lockie Ferguson, Harpreet Brar, Kuldeep Sen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Yash Thakur