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The struggling Chennai Super Kings (CSK) face a strict test against the high-flying Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 30 of IPL 2025 at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium today.
Five-time champions CSK, reeling from five straight losses, are currently at the bottom of the table with just one win in six games. In contrast, third-placed LSG, who are in line of success with three consecutive wins, aim to extend their dominance.
Current Team Form
CSK’s woes stem from a misfiring middle order, over-reliance on top-order batters, and the league’s lowest powerplay strike rate (7.5).The squad’s batting approach has been timid, with only 38.3% boundary attempts—the second-lowest this season. Additionally, Captain MS Dhoni’s return has yet to spark a revival.
LSG, led by Rishabh Pant, boast flexibility and aggression, topping the powerplay run charts (10.3 runs/over) and losing zero wickets in this phase during their last three games.
Pitch Report
The Ekana Stadium’s mixed-soil surface promises a balanced contest, aiding both batters and bowlers. Pacers may find early movement, while spinners will exploit the large boundaries. Teams chasing have won six of the last 10 games here, with the average first-innings score being 184.
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Weather Conditions
Clear skies and pleasant temperatures (27°C) with 42% humidity will ensure uninterrupted play. Winds at 9-24 km/h and zero rain probability set the ideal conditions.
Head-to-Head
LSG hold a 3-1 edge over CSK in five IPL meetings, with one no-result. At Ekana Stadium, LSG have won nine of 17 home games, while CSK remain winless in two attempts.
Predicted XIs
LSG: Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh/Himmat Singh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Rathi.
Impact Sub: Matheesha Pathirana (if bowling first).
CSK: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Vijay Shankar, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Anshul Kamboj.
Impact Sub: Deepak Hooda (if batting first).
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Key Players & Stats
- Nicholas Pooran: A strike rate of 215 vs spin this season.
- Noor Ahmad: 10 middle-over wickets; has dismissed David Miller thrice.
- R Ashwin: Struggling (economy 15 in powerplay/death) but holds a 93 SR against Pooran.
- Khaleel Ahmed: 66 powerplay dot balls (second-most in IPL 2025).
CSK’s survival hinges on aggressive batting and containing LSG’s powerplay surge. LSG, meanwhile, will bank on spin dominance and Pooran’s firepower to tighten their playoff bid.
