Delilah D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Lucknow
Lucknow, May 26: As the IPL 2025 league stage draws to a close, all eyes are on the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Stadium in Lucknow, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) lock horns with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Tuesday, May 28. With a top-two finish at stake, this final league encounter promises drama, intensity, and high-octane action.
RCB, placed third with 17 points, are on the cusp of history, eyeing a top-two finish for the first time since 2016. A win on Tuesday could catapult them into the coveted top tier, giving them a direct shot at the IPL final via Qualifier 1. However, the margin for error is razor-thin, with Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians breathing down their necks with 17 and 16 points respectively.
After a red-hot four-match winning streak before the tournament break—triggered by the India-Pakistan military standoff—RCB’s momentum has wavered. A rain-washed outing and a 42-run loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad have raised concerns in the camp.
“We were rusty. The intensity wasn't there initially... In the death (overs), we were bowling more accurately,” admitted stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma, reflecting on the SRH defeat.
The return of Australian pace maestro Josh Hazlewood comes as a timely boost. With 18 wickets in 10 games, Hazlewood remains RCB’s strike weapon, ranked fourth in this season’s wicket-takers list.
For LSG, the fixture is about pride and finishing strong. Despite being out of playoff contention, the Super Giants will aim to sign off in style. Their recent demolition of Gujarat Titans—powered by a 235-run blitz—has rekindled hopes of a spirited farewell.
Their overseas trio—Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Nicholas Pooran—finally clicked, delivering a batting masterclass. Pooran, in particular, has been a consistent force, emerging as LSG’s standout performer of the season.
Bowling woes that plagued their campaign seemed to ease in the last outing. New Zealand’s Will O’Rourke, brought in for the injured Mayank Yadav, impressed with pace and control. The return of spinner Digvesh Rathi after a suspension adds balance to the bowling lineup.
However, skipper Rishabh Pant was candid about the team's inconsistencies. “We’ve shown on occasion that we can play good cricket. But there were times we didn’t take our chances,” he said.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru:
Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (c), Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suyash Sharma, Josh Hazlewood, Yash Dayal, Rasikh Dar Salam, Manoj Bhandage, Jacob Bethell, Swapnil Singh, Liam Livingstone, Nuwan Thushara, Lungi Ngidi, Mohit Rathee, Swastik Chikara, Abhinandan Singh.
Lucknow Super Giants:
Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, David Miller, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Shahbaz Ahmed, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh, Shamar Joseph, Manimaran Siddharth, Aryan Juyal, RS Hangargekar, Yuvraj Chaudhary, Akash Maharaj Singh, Arshin Kulkarni.
With RCB looking to solidify their playoff advantage and LSG eager to bow out with flair, fans can expect fireworks as the curtain falls on the league stage of IPL 2025.