Even with Avesh Khan’s return, Lucknow’s bowling still lacks firepower
Last year in Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were left stunned as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) chased down 167 with all ten wickets intact and more than 10 overs to spare. It sparked conversations about franchise dynamics and captain-owner relationships, although no real rivalry brewed from it. But LSG will certainly be eager to set the record straight when the two teams meet again—at the same venue—on Thursday.
Much has changed since. LSG now have a new captain in Rishabh Pant, bought for a record INR 27 crore, and a refreshed squad post the mega auction. Their opening match looked promising—they had Delhi Capitals on the brink at 113 for 6 in a 210 chase, with a win probability of over 98%. But once again, it was their bowling that let them down.
Ravi Bishnoi and Shardul Thakur are the only experienced internationals in the bowling attack. Despite picking up two wickets, Shardul bowled just two overs. Bishnoi was expensive, going for 53. With Avesh Khan now in the squad, LSG’s bowling might get a slight boost, but it still lacks teeth.
SRH, on the other hand, have no plans to slow down—especially at home. Against Rajasthan Royals, openers Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma blazed through the powerplay before Ishan Kishan powered his way to an unbeaten 106 off 47 balls. All six of SRH’s top-order batters struck at 200 or more, as they nearly broke their own record for the highest IPL total.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing, though—the SRH bowlers were expensive too. Apart from Harshal Patel, every fast bowler conceded over 10 runs an over, including captain Pat Cummins, who went for 60 without a wicket. But with their batters in red-hot form, SRH aren’t sweating the bowling—yet.
A Familiar Face in New Colours
Aiden Markram, once an SRH mainstay with 849 runs across three seasons, will now open the batting for LSG against his former franchise. He’s also led Sunrisers Eastern Cape in SA20, so there’s plenty of familiarity in the opposition ranks.
Team News and Probable XIs
LSG are expected to bring in Avesh Khan in place of Prince Yadav, but the rest of the XI is likely to remain unchanged.
Probable LSG XI:
- Aiden Markram, 2. Mitchell Marsh, 3. Nicholas Pooran, 4. Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5. Ayush Badoni, 6. David Miller, 7. Shahbaz Ahmed, 8. Shardul Thakur, 9. Ravi Bishnoi, 10. Avesh Khan, 11. Digvesh Rathi, 12. Manimaran Siddharth
SRH are expected to stick to their successful combination.
Probable SRH XI:
- Travis Head, 2. Abhishek Sharma, 3. Ishan Kishan (wk), 4. Nitish Kumar Reddy, 5. Heinrich Klaasen, 6. Aniket Verma, 7. Abhinav Manohar, 8. Pat Cummins (capt), 9. Simarjeet Singh, 10. Harshal Patel, 11. Mohammed Shami, 12. Adam Zampa
Tactical Watch: Can SRH’s Top Order Be Contained?
SRH’s batting firepower is well known, especially their trio of left-handers—Head, Abhishek, and Kishan. Ravi Bishnoi, with his variations, could be deployed early to disrupt their rhythm. His ability to bowl googlies might be key in challenging the left-handers during the powerplay.
On the SRH side, all eyes will be on Pat Cummins. He’s returning from a long injury layoff, and SRH’s opener was his first T20 game since July 2024. His control and wicket-taking ability in the middle overs could be vital if he finds his rhythm.
For LSG, much will depend on Rishabh Pant. His first outing ended in a six-ball duck, which also broke Pooran’s momentum at the other end. He might consider promoting himself up the order or timing his entry to avoid facing spin early. With favourable conditions, this could be the perfect game for him to bounce back.
Key Stats to Know
- Head and Abhishek form the most explosive opening pair in T20s (min. 15 innings), with a partnership strike rate of 225.08.
- They’re the only duo to score 100+ runs in the powerplay twice in T20 history.
- The last time these teams met, they chased 168 in just 9.4 overs—the fastest IPL chase of a 150+ total.
- David Miller struggles against Cummins (SR: 82.6, 2 dismissals in 8 innings) and Zampa (SR: 93.75, 2 dismissals in 5 innings).
Pitch and Conditions
Hyderabad promises another run-fest. The surface has consistently favoured batters, especially when SRH play at home. The evening will be warm and dry with no rain in sight.
