Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Match 70 of the ongoing IPL 2025 on Tuesday, May 27, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
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LSG vs RCB: Preview
The equation is straightforward for Royal Challengers Bengaluru: defeat Lucknow Super Giants and secure a top-two finish.
For Lucknow Super Giants, the fixture presents an opportunity to wrap up their season on a positive note, especially at a home ground that’s delivered mixed results this year. They recently ended a four-match losing streak with a victory over a strong Gujarat Titans side in Ahmedabad—a timely display of their potential. Now, finishing with a win in Lucknow would be the perfect finale.
One worrying trend for RCB is that teams already out of playoff contention have been upsetting playoff-bound sides over the past few days. LSG were the ones who kicked off this streak with a stunning win over league leaders Gujarat Titans (GT), powered by a match-winning century from Mitchell Marsh. The return to form of Nicholas Pooran is another encouraging sign for LSG, as is the emergence of 6’4″ pacer Will O’Rourke, who has impressed with four wickets in just two matches since replacing the injured Mayank Yadav.
LSG’s overseas duo of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram has combined for 574 runs this season, making it the second-highest aggregate for a foreign pair in a single IPL edition—trailing only David Warner and Jonny Bairstow’s 791-run tally in 2019.
LSG’s top three batters have collectively racked up 17 half-centuries this season. Marsh and Markram have notched up six each, while Nicholas Pooran has chipped in with five.
Adding to the positives, captain Rishabh Pant’s couple of sixes against GT were an encouraging sign. This match offers him another shot at finding form and reaffirming his vital role in the team’s setup.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won’t need to crunch numbers or rely on Monday’s clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) to figure out their qualification scenario. Regardless of that result, all RCB need to do is beat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their final league game on Tuesday to move to 19 points—enough to seal a top-two finish and a spot in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025.
However, if LSG manage to pull off a win, RCB will slip to third or fourth on the table and be pushed into the Eliminator—just like last season, when they were knocked out by Rajasthan Royals (RR).
RCB have maintained a perfect record on the road this season, winning all six of their away matches. No team in IPL history has ever completed a season winning all their designated away fixtures. Tuesday’s clash also offers RCB a shot at creating history—they could become the first team ever to win all seven of their away matches in a single IPL season.
However, that goal comes with a bit of baggage. RCB suffered a heavy loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad at the same venue in Lucknow just a few days ago. Despite that setback—technically a “home” fixture under unusual circumstances—their overall away form this season has been encouraging. In fact, that defeat was their only one away from the Chinnaswamy Stadium. With this match and the playoffs set to be held in Lucknow, Mullanpur, and Ahmedabad, RCB will take heart from their success on the road.
Meanwhile, RCB saw their four-match winning run snapped by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) just a day after LSG’s last outing. While a single loss might not derail momentum, the injury to key finisher Tim David—who hurt himself while fielding—could be a setback, as he is unlikely to feature in Tuesday’s crucial game.
On the bright side, RCB have been handed a timely boost with the return of star pacer Josh Hazlewood. The Australian quick, who remained in Brisbane to rehab a shoulder issue when the IPL resumed, has rejoined the squad and will be available for the must-win encounter.
RCB will need to come up with a strategy to contain LSG’s overseas power-hitters. Mitchell Marsh has smashed the second-most sixes during the powerplay this season, while Nicholas Pooran leads the chart for the most sixes in the middle overs.
A key tactical question for RCB will be whether they dare to bowl Krunal Pandya to Pooran. The West Indian left-hander has been lethal against spin this season, with a tournament-high 25 sixes—10 more than the next best. Pooran has a limited history against Krunal in the IPL, having scored 25 runs off 15 balls without being dismissed.
On the other hand, RCB’s Rajat Patidar has struggled for form lately. After scoring 161 runs in his first four matches, he has managed only 96 runs across the last seven games.
Meanwhile, Virat Kohli stands on the brink of a personal milestone, needing just 24 more runs to reach 9,000 for RCB across the IPL and Champions League T20 combined.
Another boost for RCB is the return of Josh Hazlewood, who is back from Brisbane after recovering from a shoulder issue—strengthening their bowling unit just in time for a crucial phase.
LSG vs RCB: Recent Form
Royal Challengers Bengaluru LWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Lucknow Super Giants: WLLLL
LSG vs RCB: Head-to-Head
RCB hold a narrow 3-2 lead in the head-to-head record between the two teams, having won three of their five encounters. They also emerged victorious in the only match played at this venue in 2023.
- Matches Played: 5
- Won by Lucknow Super Giants: 2
- Won by Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 3
- Tied: 0
- No Result: 0
- First-ever Fixture: April 19, 2022
- Most-recent Fixture: April 02, 2024
LSG vs RCB: Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
Lucknow’s final game of the season will be played on a mixed-soil pitch, combining both red and black soil—typically known to be batting-friendly. The last match on this surface was the clash between LSG and CSK, where the home team was restricted to 166, and MS Dhoni guided Chennai to a successful chase.
Tuesday’s weather is expected to be intense, with temperatures rising above 36°C and high humidity levels adding to the discomfort. However, there’s no rain in the forecast, which means playing conditions should remain uninterrupted.
Earlier this week, the same venue witnessed a high-scoring contest between SRH and RCB, and a similar outcome could unfold again depending on whether the surface leans more towards red or black soil. The long boundaries will once more challenge the power-hitters, and the extreme heat will remain a significant factor for both sides.
LSG vs RCB: Team News and Starting XI
Lucknow Super Giants – Team News
Aiden Markram, called up by Cricket South Africa (CSA) to prepare for the World Test Championship final, will miss this match. Aryan Juyal, who usually bats in the top three in domestic cricket, might make his debut. Digvesh Rathi, suspended for the previous game, is expected to return to contention.
LSG could also consider giving opportunities to some of the squad players who have yet to feature this season, including batter Matthew Breetzke, wicketkeeper-batter Aryan Juyal, batting allrounder Yuvraj Chaudhary, bowling allrounder Rajvardhan Hangargekar, and batting allrounder Arshin Kulkarni. Additionally, Himmat Singh has appeared in two matches but has yet to get a chance to bat.
This season, Lucknow Super Giants have scored the most runs against spin bowling—861 runs at an impressive strike rate of 158.33—and have lost the fewest wickets to spin, only 18. With RCB’s spin attack having recently struggled against SRH, LSG will aim to make the most of the eight overs of spin they face in this match.
Lucknow Super Giants – Starting XI
- Aiden Markram
- Mitchell Marsh
- Nicholas Pooran
- Rishabh Pant (capt & wk)
- Ayush Badoni
- Abdul Samad
- Himmat Singh
- Digvesh Rathi
- Avesh Khan
- Akash Deep
- Will O’Rourke
- Akash Singh
Royal Challengers Bengaluru – Team News
RCB will need to make a few adjustments for the final league game. Josh Hazlewood is set to return to the playing XI, replacing Lungi Ngidi, who has departed to prepare for the World Test Championship final with his national team.
A significant absence will be Tim David, who contributed 42 runs from 20 balls in the last two matches. While RCB may struggle to find a direct substitute for him, they do have options like Liam Livingstone and Tim Seifert, the latter brought in as a replacement for Jacob Bethell for the remainder of the tournament. Blessing Muzarabani has also joined the squad and could feature if Hazlewood does not play.
Rajat Patidar, who was only fit to bat in the previous game due to a finger injury, might continue as the Impact Player if he’s not fully recovered to field. Should Patidar remain unavailable for captaincy duties, Jitesh Sharma is likely to step in as stand-in captain.
Additionally, Virat Kohli boasts impressive statistics against LSG’s pace duo Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan in the IPL, striking at 163.63 and 170.73 respectively, and has been dismissed by them only three times across the tournament.
Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Players To Watch Out For
Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants)
Rishabh Pant is enduring his toughest IPL season yet, struggling with runs, strike rate, and average alike. However, in his last match, he showed flashes of his former self, smashing two sixes while contorting into his signature gravity-defying poses as he completed his shots.
Perhaps the fact that LSG had already been eliminated from playoff contention allowed Pant to play with a relaxed, nothing-to-lose mindset. LSG will be hoping he brings that fearless approach to the crease again on Tuesday, while Pant himself will be eager to add to his run tally before heading to London as vice-captain for the upcoming Test series.
Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)
Few overseas bowlers have made a significant impact in IPL 2025, but Josh Hazlewood stands out among them. His consistent, precise bowling combined with effective T20 skills—such as hitting hard lengths, mixing up pace, and delivering pinpoint yorkers—makes him one of the most intimidating fast bowlers in the tournament.
Equally valuable in the powerplay and death overs, RCB will rely heavily on him both in Tuesday’s crucial match and the upcoming playoffs, before he departs for London to prepare for the WTC final.
LSG vs RCB: Prediction
Scenario 1
- Toss: Lucknow Super Giants win the toss and bowl first
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Powerplay Score: 60-70
- Royal Challengers Bengaluru Riders Total: 180-190
- Match Result: Lucknow Super Giants win the match
Scenario 2
- Toss: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the toss and bowl first
- Lucknow Super Giants Powerplay Score: 55-65
- Lucknow Super Giants Total: 170-190
- Match Result: Royal Challengers Bengaluru win the match
When and Where To Watch Lucknow Super Giants vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The Indian Premier League 2025 clash between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru is set to begin at 7:30 PM IST on Tuesday, May 27, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. The match will be broadcast live on the Star Sports network and will also be available for live streaming on JioHotstar for FREE.
FAQs
How has Royal Challengers Bengaluru performed in away matches this IPL season?
RCB has won all six of their away games this season, aiming to make history by winning all seven.
What key changes are expected in RCB’s playing XI for the final league match?
Josh Hazlewood returns to replace Lungi Ngidi, while Tim David is doubtful due to injury.
Who are the top overseas performers for Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025?
Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram have scored 574 runs together, the second-highest for an overseas pair this season.
What pitch conditions are expected for the Lucknow Super Giants vs RCB match?
The mixed red and black soil pitch favors batting, with hot, humid weather and no rain forecast.
How is Rishabh Pant’s form impacting Lucknow Super Giants this season?
Pant is having a tough season but showed promise with two sixes in his last game, hoping to regain form before the Test series.
