The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will kick off their IPL 2025 campaign by facing the Delhi Capitals (DC) on Monday, March 24, at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam. This season marks a fresh chapter for LSG as they enter under new leadership. Having been captained by KL Rahul for their first three seasons, the Lucknow-based franchise has handed the reins to Rishabh Pant, the former Delhi Capitals skipper.
LSG made headlines by securing Pant as the highest-paid player in IPL history during the last auction. The team will be banking on Pant’s experience and leadership to guide them to their maiden IPL title. After securing playoff berths in their first two seasons, LSG fell short of the top four in the previous edition.
Ahead of their clash against DC, let’s take a closer look at the LSG Playing 11 for Match 4 of IPL 2025.
LSG Playing 11 vs Delhi Capitals – IPL 2025, Match 4:
Openers: Arshin Kulkarni, Mitchell Marsh
Arshin Kulkarni and Mitchell Marsh are likely to open the innings for LSG. While Aiden Markram is also a viable option, the team is expected to rely on Kulkarni, who showcased impressive form in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, finishing as Maharashtra’s leading run-scorer. Marsh, a seasoned campaigner, will focus solely on batting due to ongoing back issues. His experience will be crucial in providing LSG with a solid start.
Middle-Order Batsmen & All-Rounders: Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed
This season marks a significant shift for Rishabh Pant, who will represent a team other than Delhi Capitals for the first time in his IPL career. As captain, Pant will aim to lead from the front and reassert his place in India’s limited-overs setup. Last season, he was DC’s top scorer and will look to replicate that form for LSG.
Nicholas Pooran will be a key player in the middle order, known for his explosive batting. His ability to single-handedly change the course of a game makes him a vital asset for LSG. Ayush Badoni, with his versatility in anchoring or accelerating the innings, will play a crucial role. Having scored 634 runs in 42 IPL matches at a strike rate of over 130, Badoni brings consistency and experience.
The LSG lineup also features David Miller, a seasoned IPL campaigner who played a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans’ title win in 2022. Alongside him, Abdul Samad and Shahbaz Ahmed will provide additional firepower and all-round capabilities. Shahbaz, in particular, impressed with his performances for Sunrisers Hyderabad last season.
Bowlers: Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Ravi Bishnoi, Shamar Joseph
Bowling could be a potential weak link for LSG this season due to injuries to key players like Mayank Yadav, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, and Akash Deep. In their absence, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Shamar Joseph are expected to spearhead the pace attack, while Ravi Bishnoi will lead the spin department. The team will rely on this trio to deliver impactful performances in the bowling unit.
With a mix of seasoned veterans and young talent, Lucknow Super Giants will aim to start their IPL 2025 campaign on a winning note against Delhi Capitals. The spotlight will be on Pant and his ability to inspire the team to greater heights as they chase their first IPL title.
