Runs and lots of runs. In Sunrisers Hyderabad’s opening game of the 2025 IPL against Rajasthan Royals in Hyderabad, they scored a whopping 286 runs while RR replied with 242. With SRH now having four of the five highest scores in the IPL and Lucknow Super Giants possessing an inexperienced attack, we could be in for another high-scoring game at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
LSG would definitely be poring through videos to chart out plans against the likes of Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Heinrich Klaasen, Ishaan Kishan and co. The silver lining for LSG is that Avesh Khan, one of the experienced pacers out injured, did partake in a net session before the game. In the match versus Delhi Capitals, it was quite evident that the inexperienced Prince Yadav attempted too many yorkers and didn’t pull his length back. So, Avesh’s addition could help LSG. Shardul Thakur, who bagged a couple of wickets in the previous game, will once again have to make incisions upfront.
The onus also will be on Ravi Bishnoi as the spinner struggled with control against DC. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant, the skipper, will believe that he is just one game away from hitting top form. The wicketkeeper-bat could look to play at the top of the order as it might suit his game better. He would then have the chance to take advantage of field restrictions. The think-tank would also look towards LSG’s middle and lower-order batters for important contributions after they floundered against DC.
Key Battle
Head versus Bishnoi. Bishnoi looked out of sorts against DC, but he does possess a fine googly. If he can locate the right length, he could trouble Head with the delivery that leaves him. Mitchell Marsh going up his Australian teammate and friend, Pat Cummins, will also catch enough eyeballs. Marsh, who is playing just as a batter in this tournament, is renowned for his hitting ability against the hard length, and Cummins specialises in that skill.
Nicholas Pooran against Adam Zampa is one more mouth-watering contest. Although Pooran is known for his pyrotechnics while playing spin, he has scored at just a tick over run a ball against Zampa. Perhaps the leg-spinner would look to bowl away from Pooran’s hitting zone and force him to hit through square of the wicket on the off-side.
LSG Likely XI
Avesh might come into the equation for Prince. Outside of it, LSG are set to go in with the same XI that took on DC.
Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Shardul Thakur, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan.
Likely Impact Subs: Manimaran Siddharth, Abdul Samad, RS Hangargekar.
SRH likely XI
SRH are all set to pick the same side that pipped RR in their opening fixture. There is no need to make changes to a winning combination.
Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (c), Simarjeet Singh, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami.
Likely Sunrisers Hyderabad Impact Sub options: Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Adam Zampa, Wiaan Mulder.
Pitch and Weather
The track is set to favour the batters once more. At most, the spinners might get the odd ball to stop on the batter. It is set to be another hot day in Hyderabad. However, as the day progresses, it could get a bit cooler.