Sports Desk | May 19, 2025 : In the 61st match of the IPL 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) won the toss and elected to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The encounter carries high stakes for LSG, who are fighting to stay in the playoff race.
Major Changes in Playing XIs
SRH is missing two key players in today’s clash. Opener Travis Head has been ruled out after testing positive for Covid-19, while pacer Jaydev Unadkat is absent due to personal reasons. In their absence, Atharva Taide and Harsh Dubey have been drafted into the playing XI.
For LSG, New Zealand fast bowler William O’Rourke is making his IPL debut, bolstering the pace attack as Lucknow faces a do-or-die situation.
Playoff Scenarios
Lucknow has played 11 matches and has 10 points. A loss today would effectively eliminate them from playoff contention. With three matches remaining, they must win all to keep their hopes alive.
On the other hand, Hyderabad is already out of playoff contention. With only 3 wins in 11 games, they sit at 6 points and are now playing for pride and development of new talent.
Previous Encounter
This is the second time both teams are facing each other this season. In their previous clash, LSG defeated SRH by 5 wickets, showcasing a clinical all-round performance.
Playing XIs for Both Teams
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):
Rishabh Pant (captain & wicketkeeper), Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Akash Deep, Ravi Bishnoi, Digvijay Singh Rathore, Avesh Khan, William O’Rourke
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH):
Pat Cummins (captain), Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), Aniket Verma, Kamindu Mendis, Harshal Patel, Harsh Dubey, Zeeshan Ansari, Ishan Malinga
As both teams take the field, the pressure is on Lucknow to deliver a win and stay alive in the IPL 2025 playoff race, while Hyderabad will be looking to disrupt their chances and build momentum for the future.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.