Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh T20 League 2025 continues to gather momentum, and cricket fans are in for a treat on August 20 as the Lucknow Falcons take on the Kanpur Superstars in Match 7 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The game is scheduled for a 7:30 PM IST start, promising an evening filled with intensity, rivalry, and the battle for early-season momentum.
Falcons Seek Redemption After a Stumbling Start
The Lucknow Falcons enter this contest with a blend of determination and unfinished business. Their 2024 season was impressive, finishing second in the league stage with six wins and four losses, only to be knocked out in Qualifier 2 by none other than the Kanpur Superstars. That painful exit lingers in the minds of their supporters, making this fixture one of both rivalry and revenge.
The Falcons’ strength lies in their balance. With Priyam Garg at the helm, who piled up 283 runs last season, and Samarth Singh, who added 284, the batting order has both reliability and flair. In 2025, however, they began with a narrow defeat against the Noida Kings, a result that underscored their vulnerability in pressure moments despite flashes of brilliance. On the bowling front, the experience of Bhuvneshwar Kumar provides them with a spearhead capable of swinging the new ball under lights, while the all-round qualities of Vipraj Nigam, who claimed 20 wickets last season, give them a versatile option in both departments. Their challenge against Kanpur will be to ensure that their batting holds steady through the middle overs, something that cost them in their last outing.
Kanpur Eye Consistency After Mixed Results
The Kanpur Superstars may have entered the 2025 edition on the back foot after a heavy defeat to the Meerut Mavericks, but they remain a dangerous unit capable of turning games on their head. Their 2024 campaign was a mixed bag, finishing third with five wins and five losses, yet they managed to knock out the Falcons in Qualifier 2. That victory gave them a psychological edge which they will look to carry into this clash.
Led by the charismatic Sameer Rizvi, who has been the heartbeat of their batting, Kanpur have a middle order that can take down any attack when in rhythm. Rizvi’s ability to counter pressure situations and accelerate the scoring makes him the player around whom the batting revolves. Supporting him are reliable names like Shaurya Singh and Abhishek Pandey, while their bowling will rely heavily on pacers such as Mohsin Khan to deliver early breakthroughs. The Superstars’ weakness, however, lies in their inconsistency with the ball. In 2024, their bowlers often struggled to defend totals, and the 2025 opener against Meerut was another reminder of that frailty. Unless they tighten their lines and avoid leakage in the death overs, Lucknow’s batters could run away with the game.
A Rivalry with History
The rivalry between Lucknow and Kanpur has already seen its share of drama in the league’s short history. In the 2024 season, the Superstars held a 2-0 record over the Falcons, including a narrow three-run win in the league stage and a commanding performance in Qualifier 2. Yet, if history is any guide, the Falcons cannot be written off. Their 2023 victory by two wickets demonstrated their resilience in crunch moments, proving that the head-to-head may tilt towards Kanpur, but the contests remain closely fought.
Overall, Kanpur leads 2-1 in their recent UP T20 League meetings, but the margins have often been tight, adding to the anticipation around this match.
The Ekana Factor
The Ekana Stadium in Lucknow is expected to play its part in shaping the outcome. Traditionally known for its slow surface, the pitch tends to favor spinners as the game progresses, with grip and turn making stroke-making difficult in the latter stages. That said, fast bowlers have accounted for nearly 60 percent of dismissals here in recent times, aided by early swing and seam movement under lights.
The average first-innings score sits around 155–160, with par totals closer to 165–170. Teams batting first have historically had the advantage, winning more than half of the contests at this venue last season. With the dew factor often coming into play, captains may face a tricky call at the toss, though setting a total could remain the preferred strategy.
Weather Watch
The weather in Lucknow on August 20 could add another layer of intrigue. Forecasts point to scattered thunderstorms during the day with highs of 32°C and lows of 27°C. By evening, the chance of rain dips to around 10 percent, suggesting that the game is unlikely to be washed out, though brief interruptions cannot be ruled out. Dew, however, could favor the chasing side in the second innings, making the toss all the more crucial.
Key Battles to Decide the Contest
This match offers some tantalizing individual duels. The clash between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Sameer Rizvi could be decisive, with Bhuvneshwar’s prodigious swing bowling testing Rizvi’s aggressive intent at the top. Similarly, Vipraj Nigam’s spin against Kanpur’s middle order may well shape the middle overs. For Lucknow, Priyam Garg and Samarth Singh need to blunt the pace of Mohsin Khan early, while Kanpur’s hopes may rest on whether Rizvi can anchor the innings long enough to set or chase a challenging total.
Prediction: Falcons Slightly Ahead, But Superstars Threaten
Both teams enter this clash searching for their first win of the 2025 season, which raises the stakes even higher. Lucknow, with their stronger bowling attack and the comfort of home conditions at Ekana, start as marginal favorites. Their depth, coupled with experience in the form of Garg, Singh, and Bhuvneshwar, makes them a more balanced unit.
Yet, the Kanpur Superstars cannot be dismissed. Their dominance over Lucknow in 2024 gives them confidence, and if Rizvi finds support from the middle order while their bowlers hold their nerve, an upset is very much on the cards. Expect a low-scoring thriller, where the side that handles pressure in the middle overs could walk away victorious.
