Cricholic
CSK vs LSG is more than just a mid-season clash—it’s a battle between two teams heading in completely opposite directions in IPL 2025. While Lucknow Super Giants have momentum and form on their side, Chennai Super Kings are battling not just the opposition, but themselves.
MS Dhoni’s return to captaincy has done little to stop CSK’s slide. The five-time champions have now lost five matches, one more than they had at this point during their dismal 2020 season—when they finished second from bottom. Head coach Stephen Fleming has confirmed the obvious: there’s no magic wand this time. In fact, CSK are struggling with a shaky top order, poor fielding, and a lack of firepower in the powerplay.
Their last game, a heavy defeat to KKR, exposed just how lost their batting unit has become—playing 61 dot balls, the exact number KKR used to chase down the target.
CSK vs LSG – Lucknow’s Confidence at Home
Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, are thriving on home turf, winning 3 out of 4 games at the Ekana Stadium. With big hitters like Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, and Aiden Markram in the top order, LSG have masked any bowling flaws with their firepower. Additionally, captain Rishabh Pant has also looked better with every outing.
They now sit in the top 4, and a win here could push them to the top of the table. In contrast, CSK are simply hoping to avoid sinking further into the bottom of the standings.
CSK vs LSG – Match Details
- When: April 14, 2025 – 07:30 PM IST
- Where: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Pitch: Mixed soil surface (Pitch No. 5), even square boundaries, no rain expected
Head-to-Head Record – CSK vs LSG
- Matches Played: 5
- LSG Wins: 3
- CSK Wins: 1
- No Result: 1
- Notably, all matches have been high-scoring contests
CSK vs LSG – Team News & Strategies
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)
- Injury Update: Mitchell Marsh is expected to return after missing the last match.
- Tactics: With no major concerns regarding boundary dimensions in this game, LSG pacers will likely target Rachin Ravindra with short balls—he’s been dismissed 6 times off such deliveries in IPL 2024-25.
Probable XII: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
Chennai Super Kings (CSK)
- Injury Update: Shivam Dube is fit and trained on Sunday.
- Tactics: CSK need to bring back Matheesha Pathirana, who has dismissed Pooran 4 times in 25 balls. Furthermore, R Ashwin is also a potential spin option against Pooran despite his recent form.
Probable XII: Devon Conway, Rachin Ravindra, Rahul Tripathi, Shivam Dube, Vijay Shankar, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, R Ashwin, Noor Ahmad, Anshul Kamboj, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana
Key Stats to Watch – CSK vs LSG
- Pooran’s Strike Rate: 272.46 vs spin, 173.11 vs pace in IPL 2025
- Powerplay Economy: CSK (10.58), LSG (10.72) – worst in the league
- Fielding Errors: CSK have dropped 13 catches and missed 9 run-outs; LSG have dropped 9 and missed 14
“We are happy to have Nicholas Pooran in our team. The way he’s been batting is phenomenal.” – Rishabh Pant
“We’ve had some hard conversations. Now it’s about improving all three departments and putting up a fight.” – Stephen Fleming
Final Thoughts on CSK vs LSG
CSK vs LSG is a test of character for Chennai and a golden opportunity for Lucknow. With both teams at contrasting points in their season, this match will undoubtedly be a battle of resilience. Will Dhoni’s men fight back or will LSG tighten their grip on the top four?
