Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and their hosts for Match No. 59 of Indian Premier League 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), are in diametrically opposite situations in the tournament.
LSG have only a 1% chance to qualify for the playoffs, while that is the same amount of chance that RCB have of being eliminated in the league stage of the tournament.
LSG are currently on a three-match losing streak, with the latest of those coming against Punjab Kings in Dharamsala. Prabhsimran Singh flayed LSG’s bowlers all over for an aggressive 91 and received the ideal support from his teammates. The contribution from all batters led PBKS to a very strong total.
Arshdeep Singh took out LSG’s feared top three in the powerplay itself. For LSG, that was the sign that the game was doomed. Ayush Badoni got 74 while Abdul Samad also got a start, but those knocks only reduced the win margin for PBKS.
RCB though, have won four matches in a row now and their last one was a humdinger against CSK in Bengaluru. Virat Kohli and Jacob Bethell got aggressive fifties, but the innings slowed down eventually. It wasn’t until Romario Shepherd’s 33-run over off Khaleel Ahmed that RCB picked the pace back up. Shepherd eventually completed the fastest IPL fifty by an RCB player off the very last ball of the innings.
RCB made early inroads, but Ayush Mhatre and Ravindra Jadeja brought back CSK. The pair pretty much brought their team back from the brink all by themselves until Lungi Ngidi got rid of Mhatre six short of a maiden hundred. Ngidi also got the better of Dewald Brevis under controversial circumstances off the next ball. The sides kept ducking it out until all the drama spilled over to the last over.
Yash Dayal was tasked with defending 15 runs in the last over and bowled an impressive first half where he gave away just two runs and dismissed MS Dhoni. Shivam Dube put a beamer into the stands on the next one and CSK had breathing room going from having to chase 13 runs in 3 balls to just chasing 6 in 3. Yash Dayal only conceded singles to all three and RCB were home by two runs.
RCB have won all six of their away matches so far in IPL 2025, and will hope that they can make it a perfect away season in their last away match this year.
IPL Records and Stats at Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
The pitch has been departing from its typical minefield-ish ways from a few years ago, so a higher total could be on the cards.
| Matches Played | 19 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 8 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 10 |
| Matches With No Result | 01 |
| Matches Tied | 00 |
| Average First Innings Score | 168 |
| Highest Team Total | 235 |
| Highest Total Successfully Chased | 197 |
Key Player Battles in LSG vs RCB, Match 59 of IPL 2025:
1. Rishabh Pant vs Bhuvneshwar Kumar
LSG’ skipper has been in pretty much the worst form of his life in this tournament, but will relish the opportunity to face Bhuvneshwar, especially at the death. In the IPL, Pant has been dismissed just once off Bhuvneshwar’s bowling while scoring 94 runs in 41 balls at a strike rate of 229.26.
2. Virat Kohli vs Shardul Thakur
Kohli on the other hand, is in some very good form in IPL 2025 having made fifties in each of his last four innings. This form will boost his confidence shaping up against a bowler who has hardly given him any trouble in the IPL before. Kohli has made 72 runs in 44 balls at a strike rate of 163.64 against Thakur while being dismissed just once. Kohli has similar numbers against Avesh Khan as well.