Lucknow: The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is set to host two electrifying IPL 2025 clashes as the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) lock horns with the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Gujarat Titans (GT). With the tournament in full swing as of April 2, 2025, these matches promise high-octane drama, fierce rivalries, and a battle for supremacy on a pitch renowned for its bowler-friendly quirks. Fans are in for a treat as LSG, led by the dynamic Rishabh Pant, take on Shreyas Iyer’s KKR in a clash of contrasting styles, followed by a gritty showdown against Shubman Gill’s GT, a team with a knack for defying the odds.
First up, the LSG-KKR encounter, scheduled for later in April, pits the home side’s adaptability and spin-heavy bowling against KKR’s explosive batting and balanced attack.
Historically, LSG has dominated this fixture, leading 3-1 in four IPL meetings, including two wins in two games at Ekana. However, KKR broke their duck in 2024 with a commanding 8-wicket victory at Eden Gardens, chasing 162 in just 15.4 overs. Ekana’s red-soil pitch, known for its low bounce and sluggish nature, could turn this into a tactical chess match. In IPL 2024, the average first-innings score here was 174, with teams batting second winning four out of six games. KKR posted the venue’s highest total—235/6—against LSG last year, but the lowest, LSG’s 108 against RCB in 2023, underscores how tricky it can get. Spinners are expected to dominate, with batters needing to grind it out, especially in the middle overs.
LSG’s recent form has been a mixed bag. They lost a nail-biter to Delhi Capitals by 1 wicket and bounced back with a 5-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, but their latest outing on April 1 saw them post 171/7 against Punjab Kings, only to lose by 8 wickets as their bowling faltered. KKR, meanwhile, has been a force in 2025, riding high after a clinical 8-wicket win over Mumbai Indians on April 1, thanks to their batting firepower and bowling depth. For LSG, Nicholas Pooran’s explosive form could be a game-changer, despite his modest Ekana average of under 25, while Ravi Bishnoi’s leg-spin and Shardul Thakur’s clutch wickets will be key. KKR counters with Sunil Narine, who torched LSG for 81 off 39 balls at Ekana in 2024, alongside Andre Russell’s dual threat and Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin. LSG’s spin trio of Bishnoi, Shahbaz Ahmed, and potentially Krunal Pandya aligns perfectly with the pitch, but KKR’s momentum and top-order firepower, led by Narine and Phil Salt, make this a close call. Experts give LSG a slight edge—55-45—thanks to their home record and spin depth.
Next, LSG face GT in another April showdown steeped in history. LSG leads the head-to-head 3-1, including a 20-run win at Ekana in 2024, but GT stunned them in 2023, defending 135 in a 7-run heist. This promises to be a low-scoring thriller where every run and wicket will count. The same bowler-friendly Ekana surface will challenge both teams, with spinners and pacers wielding slower variations—like GT’s Mohit Sharma and LSG’s Avesh Khan—historically thriving here. IPL 2024 saw Ekana record the lowest average run rate among venues, with the highest successful chase being 170/4 by DC, making defending totals the norm.
LSG’s bowling looked vulnerable in their April 1 loss to PBKS without Mayank Yadav and Akash Deep, but their batting, led by Pooran, Pant, and Mitchell Marsh, has shown resilience. GT, meanwhile, stumbled in their 2025 opener, losing to Punjab Kings by 11 runs despite Shreyas Iyer’s 97*, exposing their batting depth but highlighting their bowling strength. Pant’s aggressive captaincy could set the tone for LSG, though he’ll need to adapt to Ekana’s slowness, while Avesh Khan’s pace and Ayush Badoni’s finishing skills could prove decisive. GT relies on Gill’s anchoring ability, Rashid Khan’s leg-spin wizardry, and Mohit Sharma’s death-over heroics, reminiscent of their 2023 win. LSG’s home advantage and 3-1 record give them a 60-40 edge, but GT’s resilience could make it a dogfight.
