Lucknow: Gujarat Titans, bolstered by the explosive form of Sai Sudharsan (273 runs at an average of 54.60) and the disciplined bowling duo of Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, look the more balanced and confident unit as they take on Lucknow Super Giants in the 26th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.
GT, placed at the top of the points table after four consecutive wins, have rebounded strongly from an early loss to Punjab Kings. Central to their dominance has been the left-handed Sudharsan, who has notched up three half-centuries and maintained a brisk strike rate of 151.66.
In their most recent outing, his 82 off 53 balls anchored a commanding win against Rajasthan Royals.
Siraj and Krishna have led Gujarat's bowling attack with incisive spells, sharing 20 wickets between them while maintaining economy rates under 7.1. Their ability to strike early and contain runs in the death overs has turned GT into one of the most difficult sides to chase against.
Lucknow, meanwhile, sit fifth on the table with three wins from five games. Their batting has revolved around the destructive pairing of Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran. The duo starred in their previous match against Kolkata Knight Riders, posting a mammoth 238/3, with Pooran remaining unbeaten on 87 off just 36 deliveries and Marsh hammering 81 from 48 balls.
However, LSG’s middle order remains vulnerable. Skipper Rishabh Pant’s form has been patchy, with three single-digit scores, while overseas pros like David Miller have yet to fire. Aiden Markram’s return to form with 47 runs in the last match is a welcome boost, but consistency remains an issue.
Bowling has been an area of concern for LSG. Shardul Thakur has taken nine wickets but has leaked runs at an economy of 10.82. Ravi Bishnoi and Akash Deep have also been expensive. Digvesh Rathi stands out as the most economical option, having picked seven wickets while maintaining control in the middle overs.
The Ekana pitch is expected to assist slower bowlers as the game progresses. Batting first has proven to be the successful formula in recent games at this venue, especially under the hot and humid afternoon conditions. Teams chasing have found it difficult to cope with the slowing surface, making the toss crucial.
For Gujarat, all eyes will be on Sudharsan at the top, along with Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill, who have shown glimpses of form. The lower order contributions from Sherfane Rutherford and Washington Sundar, the likely Impact Player, may tilt the balance in crunch situations.
For Lucknow, much will depend on the Marsh-Pooran duo repeating their fireworks. Rathi’s spell in the middle overs will also be key if LSG are to contain Gujarat’s top-heavy batting order.
Gujarat Titans have held the upper hand in past encounters, winning four of their five matches against Lucknow in the IPL. While LSG broke the streak with a 33-run win last season, history and momentum favour the Titans.
If LSG’s top order fires and the bowlers step up, they are capable of defending a total on home turf. But with Gujarat’s solid mix of form, balance, and adaptability, they go into this match as favourites.
Predicted XIs:
Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi
Impact Player: Ravi Bishnoi
Gujarat Titans: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
