Lucknow, Apr 3 (UNI) Mumbai Indians will enter the 16th IPL 2025 match against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday with renewed confidence after a dominant win over Kolkata Knight Riders. Their bowlers bundled KKR out for just 116, and Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 62, along with Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive 27 off nine balls, ensured a comfortable chase.
Debutant Ashwani Kumar impressed with a four-wicket haul, while Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult have been effective in the powerplay. With this resurgence, MI appears well-positioned to challenge LSG despite past head-to-head records.
Lucknow have held an upper hand against Mumbai in the IPL, winning five of their six encounters. However, MI’s recent win over Kolkata has given them a much-needed boost.
Nicholas Pooran has been LSG’s standout performer, amassing 189 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 220. His contribution will be crucial as LSG look to bounce back from a heavy eight-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings in their last home game.
Mitchell Marsh and Pooran have carried much of the batting load, and their failure often exposes the team’s fragility. Captain Rishabh Pant’s poor form remains a concern, while Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad have shown promise in the lower order.
In the bowling department, Shardul Thakur has claimed six wickets in three matches but has been expensive, conceding at an economy rate of 10.22. The return of Akash Deep is expected to bolster the attack, while leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi will be keen to improve on his underwhelming returns so far.
Mumbai bowling attack, led by Chahar and Boult, has been effective in the powerplay. Debutant Ashwani impressed with a four-wicket haul in the last game and could play a key role again. Mitchell Santner’s experience in the middle overs will be vital, while young pacer Vignesh Puthur may be called upon for breakthroughs.
The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium pitch is expected to be balanced, offering assistance to both batsmen and bowlers. Dew in the second innings could make chasing a preferred option. The highest successful chase at this venue in IPL history stands at 199-3, achieved by Rajasthan Royals against LSG last season.
With both teams searching for consistency, the contest is set to be a thrilling encounter. While LSG have dominated MI in the past, the visitors’ recent resurgence makes them slight favourites heading into the match.
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