Lucknow, Mar 31 (UNI) A battle of power-hitters awaits as Nicholas Pooran’s red-hot form meets Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy brilliance when Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 13th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Monday.
Both teams have shown immense promise early in the tournament, setting the stage for an electrifying contest.
Pooran has been in sensational touch, striking at over 250 in his last five outings and turning games single-handedly for LSG. Meanwhile, Iyer’s leadership and an unbeaten 97 off 42 balls in PBKS' opening match have added a new dimension to their campaign. With both sides eager to build on their performances, this encounter promises high-intensity action.
Lucknow made a strong comeback after a heartbreaking one-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals in their opening game, securing a convincing win against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Punjab, on the other hand, started their campaign with a commanding victory over Gujarat Titans.
Apart from Pooran, Mitchell Marsh played a vital role in their recent victory, scoring a solid 52 off 31 balls for LSG. Rishabh Pant and David Miller are yet to make a significant impact but hold the potential to deliver a match-winning knock.
On the bowling front, Shardul Thakur has led from the front, claiming six wickets in two matches. Young pacer Prince Yadav impressed in the last match, while Ravi Bishnoi remains a key threat in the middle overs.
Punjab's batting lineup looks formidable with Iyer leading the charge. Priyansh Arya and Shashank Singh also chipped in with crucial knocks, while the presence of Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell adds further firepower.
In the bowling department, Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen are expected to lead the attack. Yuzvendra Chahal will be a key figure on the Lucknow pitch, which tends to favour spinners in the middle overs.
The Lucknow stadium is expected to offer a balanced surface, with moderate scoring conditions. Spinners could play a decisive role in the middle overs, though dew later in the match may favour the chasing side. The weather forecast indicates warm and humid conditions, with no rain expected.
Both teams have shown promise in the early stages of the tournament, but Punjab appear to have a slight edge due to their overall balance and batting depth. Lucknow’s bowling unit will have to be at its best to counter Punjab’s firepower.
Teams:
Punjab Kings: Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Rishabh Pant (c&wk), David Miller, Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav, Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal, Nehal Wadhera (Impact Player).
Lucknow Super Giants: Himmat Singh, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, Mitchell Marsh, Abdul Samad, Arshin Kulkarni, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Shahbaz Ahmed, RS Hangargekar, Shardul Thakur, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Aryan Juyal, Rishabh Pant (c), Ravi Bishnoi, Mayank Yadav, Akash Deep, Manimaran Siddharth, Shamar Joseph, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav, Akash Maharaj Singh, Digvesh Singh Rathi.
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