IPL 2025 LSG vs MI Match Preview, Ekana Stadium Pitch Report, LSG Probable Playing XI, MI Playing XI, Rishabh Pant vs MI, IPL Head to Head Stats
IPL 2025 Match 16 Preview: Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians | Pitch, Teams, Head-to-Head.
Date: April 4, 2025 | Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | Time: 7:30 PM IST
A New Chapter for Lucknow Super Giants
It was supposed to be a fresh start — a new squad, a new captain, and a sea of 40,000 home fans cheering them on. But what followed in Lucknow Super Giants' (LSG) opening home game was nothing short of a disaster. The loss to Punjab Kings wasn't just disappointing on the scoreboard — it stung even more in the post-match press conference where newly-appointed mentor Zaheer Khan took aim at the playing surface, saying it felt like it was prepared by a "Punjab curator."
What Went Wrong in the Last Match?
Ekana Stadium, known for its slow pitches and large boundaries, isn’t the place where 200+ scores are common. Only one such score has been posted here in IPL history. But it wasn’t the pitch alone that hurt LSG — it was their reading of it. Expecting red-soil conditions to assist spin, LSG loaded up with four spinners and just two pacers. PBKS, however, smartly bowled 13 overs of pace — and reaped the rewards.
Now, with a black-soil pitch expected for this clash against Mumbai Indians (MI), LSG are likely to revise their playing XI. The pitch last season didn’t offer much for spinners, and with Akash Deep declared fit and raring to go, a pacer-heavy attack seems more likely.
Mumbai Indians’ Road Woes Continue
Mumbai Indians may have finally opened their account in IPL 2025, but the challenges aren’t over. Playing away from home has been their Achilles' heel — 13 losses in 18 away games since IPL 2023 speak volumes. The Ekana pitch won’t offer the bounce and pace of Wankhede, and adapting quickly will be key.
What to Expect on Match Day?
Pitch: Black-soil surface with shorter boundaries on one side
Dew: None expected
Toss Advantage: Chasing teams have won 5 of the last 6 IPL games here
Scoring Trend: Slight improvement post the 2023 World Cup relaying, but still not a high-scoring ground
Powerplay Matters
The Impact Player rule has made comebacks possible, but not on slow tracks with large boundaries. Batting through the powerplay without damage will be vital — something LSG failed to do in their previous outing.
Head-to-Head: LSG 5 - 1 MI
LSG have dominated this contest historically. Their last win over MI in Lucknow came by chasing down 144 in the final over.
Team News & Predicted XIs
Lucknow Super Giants
Injury Update: Akash Deep returns; Mayank Yadav still recovering at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence
Key Matchups:
Avesh Khan vs Rohit Sharma & Hardik Pandya
Ravi Bishnoi has dismissed Rohit 3 times in 6 innings, and Suryakumar Yadav 3 times in 7
Probable XII: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (C/WK), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav/Akash Deep
Mumbai Indians
Injury Update: No injuries reported
Key Matchups:
Spin to Rishabh Pant early could be effective (6 runs in 13 balls this season vs spin, dismissed twice)
Probable XII: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Will Jacks/Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Vignesh Puthur/Satyanarayana Raju
Did You Know?
3 of the 6 sub-150 totals defended in the IPL since 2022 have been against LSG.
Avesh Khan has a poor record at Ekana — just 3 wickets in 5 matches, average of 48.66.
What They Said
Akash Deep (LSG): “The first match is very important for me. I’ve played one practice match, but after a 2-3 month gap, match fitness comes only with game time.”
Kieron Pollard (MI): “Adaptability is the hallmark of a world-class player. We can’t control pitch conditions, but we can control how we respond to them.”
Final Thoughts
With both teams desperate to find consistency, and a pitch that offers little margin for error, Match 16 of IPL 2025 promises to be a battle of tactics, adaptability, and nerves. Can LSG bounce back at home? Or will MI finally shake off their away blues?
Stay tuned for what promises to be another thrilling encounter in IPL 2025!
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