Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2025 gears up for another riveting contest as the Noida Super Kings lock horns with the Gorakhpur Lions in Match 6 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on August 20 at 3:00 PM IST. With Noida riding on the back of a confidence-boosting victory and Gorakhpur desperate to bounce back from a heavy defeat, the stage is set for a high-intensity encounter.
Recent Form and Team Momentum
The Noida Super Kings arrive in Lucknow with renewed confidence after clinching a thrilling two-wicket win against Lucknow Falcons. Chasing 166, they began in style with a 56-run opening stand between skipper Shivam Chaudhary (26 off 17) and Anivesh Choudhary (33 off 26). Despite a middle-order slump that saw four wickets tumble in quick succession, it was the resilience of Prashant Veer (48 off 41)* and a brisk 33 off 20 from Karn Sharma that saw them home with a ball to spare. The bowling unit was tidy, with Naman Tiwari, Mohammed Sharim, and the Sharma duo chipping in with crucial wickets. However, the vulnerability of the middle order under pressure remains a concern.
The Gorakhpur Lions, meanwhile, are still reeling from their 50-run defeat to Kashi Rudras. Conceding 176/8, their bowling saw flashes of brilliance—Abdul Rehman’s 3/46 and Shivam Sharma’s two scalps—but they faltered in the death overs. Their batting collapsed alarmingly, bowled out for just 126. Skipper Akshdeep Nath’s fighting 34 was the only bright spark in an otherwise disappointing display. With their top order crumbling for 45/5 inside 10 overs, the Lions’ dependency on Nath and Abhishek Goswami was glaring. A more cohesive batting show is imperative if they hope to trouble Noida.
Head-to-Head Record
The two sides share a brief but competitive history, having met four times across the last two editions. Noida Super Kings lead the head-to-head 3-1.
- 2024: Gorakhpur stunned Noida with a 91-run win, powered by dominant batting.
- 2024: Noida struck back with a 7-wicket chase of 183, thanks to Samarth Singh (50) and *Aditya Sharma (46)**.
- 2023: Noida’s bowlers choked Gorakhpur to secure a 43-run win.
- 2023: Noida coasted to a target with ease, winning by 7 wickets.
The numbers clearly underline Noida’s composure in run-chases and their superior bowling in spin-friendly conditions, while Gorakhpur’s solitary win proves that when their batting fires, they are capable of stunning results.
Key Players to Watch
Noida Super Kings
- Shivam Chaudhary (Captain): His aggressive starts in the powerplay often dictate Noida’s momentum.
- Prashant Veer: In-form all-rounder who scored a match-winning 48* against Lucknow and has been consistent.
- Nitish Rana: Veteran with 301 runs last season at a strike rate of 160; a stabilizer and finisher rolled into one.
- Naman Tiwari: Young pacer with a knack for early breakthroughs.
- Piyush Chawla: The experienced spinner who thrives on Ekana’s slow track.
Gorakhpur Lions
- Akshdeep Nath (Captain): The backbone of their batting with recent scores against Noida to back his credentials.
- Abhishek Goswami: Their most prolific batter with 387 runs last season; his form is crucial to Gorakhpur’s hopes.
- Abdul Rehman: Strike bowler who picked 3 wickets against Kashi Rudras.
- Shivam Sharma: A proven nemesis for Noida with 4 wickets in two games against them.
- Kavya Teotia: A dynamic batter who adds depth to the middle order.
Pitch and Conditions
The Ekana pitch has been true to its reputation—slow, spin-friendly, and challenging for chasing sides. While pacers take advantage early with the new ball, spinners dominate the middle overs. The average first-innings score hovers around 192, making it a decent batting track early on. Dew is less likely in a day game, but teams setting a target hold the advantage, with three of the last four matches at this venue won by the side batting first.
Weather conditions are forecast to be warm at 32°C with clear skies, ensuring uninterrupted play.
Tactical Insights
For Noida, the key lies in their powerplay aggression. Their 68 runs in the first six overs against Lucknow showed their ability to capitalize early. If their middle order—anchored by Rana and Veer—finds stability, they can post or chase down big totals. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by Chawla’s spin and Tiwari’s pace, looks well-suited to strangling Gorakhpur’s fragile batting.
For Gorakhpur, the priority is to fix their top-order issues. Openers Anchit and Siddharth Yadav must provide a platform for Nath and Goswami. Their bowlers have shown glimpses of potency, but greater discipline in the death overs is required. Fielding lapses also cost them dearly against Kashi, something they cannot afford against a strong Noida batting unit.
Toss Strategy
Given the pitch’s tendency to slow down, batting first remains the smarter option. A 180+ total could be a match-winner at Ekana, with chasing sides often struggling as the ball grips later.
Prediction
The odds tilt in favor of Noida Super Kings, who not only have a superior head-to-head record (3-1) but also arrive with winning momentum. Their balanced side, comprising explosive openers, a solid middle order, and an experienced bowling unit, makes them the more complete outfit.
The Gorakhpur Lions, however, remain dark horses. If Nath and Goswami fire with the bat and their bowlers tighten up, they are more than capable of springing a surprise. Yet, with consistency an ongoing issue, the Lions appear a step behind.
Likely Winner: Noida Super Kings, with a 60% chance of victory, provided they guard against another middle-order wobble.
Probable XIs
Noida Super Kings: Shivam Chaudhary (c), Anivesh Choudhary, Prashant Veer, Nitish Rana, Aditya Sharma (wk), Mohammed Sharim, Karn Sharma, Naman Tiwari, Kunal Tyagi, Piyush Chawla, Priyanshu Pandey.
Gorakhpur Lions: Akshdeep Nath (c), Abhishek Goswami, Siddharth Yadav, Hardeep Singh (wk), Shivam Sharma, Abdul Rehman, Ankit Rajpoot, Vaibhav Chaudhary, Yashu Pradhan, Ankit Chaudhary, Aryan Juyal.
Where to Watch
Fans can follow the live action on FanCode, CricketAddictor, and SportsTiger, with ball-by-ball commentary and match updates.
