SRH vs LSG Match Preview: One word Rishabh Pant and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) won’t hear, not even a whisper, when they take the field for their second Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Thursday, March 27. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad can feel like a furnace for visiting teams, if not worse.
The Super Giants are still recovering from their narrow defeat to Delhi Capitals in a thrilling encounter the other night. Pant, carrying the pressure of his hefty Rs 27 crore price tag, faced a tough outing—dismissed for a duck off just six balls and missing a straightforward stumping opportunity in the final over of DC’s run-chase. Things won’t be getting any easier for Pant, as he now has to battle the scorching heat in Hyderabad.
The Sunrisers, on the other hand, are in red-hot form after handing Rajasthan Royals a nightmare in broad daylight, posting a colossal 286/6 on their home turf the other day. As if Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen weren’t enough to break down their opponents, Ishan Kishan joined the fray with a blazing century.
‘No Complacency for SRH’
Since last season, the Sunrisers have been dominating Hyderabad, averaging a score of 233 at home. The last time they faced LSG in the city, they put on an incredible display, chasing down 166 with more than 10 overs to spare. Head and Abhishek relentlessly attacked the LSG bowlers, never easing off the gas for a second.
That psychological blow left LSG struggling to recover, and they ultimately missed out on the playoffs. However, as they gear up for the next clash, the Sunrisers are determined not to let complacency take hold. They remain fully aware of the threat posed by players like Pant, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and others, and are preparing to tackle them head-on.
LSG is a very dangerous batting unit, and their top 5 are in great form, so we need to be sharp and creative with our plans. Hopefully, we can produce some good results for our bowling unit,” SRH fast bowling coach James Franklin said in the pre-match press conference.
The Sunrisers also need to tighten their bowling attack, which conceded 242 runs against the Royals. Pat Cummins, returning from a two-month break, looked rusty, finishing with disappointing figures of 4-0-60-0. It’s now time for him to step up and deliver for the Orange Army.
‘230 the New Par’
It’s clear that the Super Giants will need to fight fire with fire if they’re to challenge the Sunrisers. With par scores shifting from 160-170 to well over 200 due to the nature of the pitches at certain venues, Mitchell Marsh acknowledged that the upcoming clash is unlikely to be a low-scoring affair by any means.
The only plan is to score more runs—that’s the only plan. I think the most important thing for us as a team is to focus on our strengths and play our game. No doubt, Sunrisers have put a lot of teams under pressure, but I believe that’s the case for any team these days. 230 is the new par score at most grounds, so we respect that, but we are here to focus on our game,” Marsh said.
The Super Giants can breathe a sigh of relief now that Avesh Khan has been declared fit for the upcoming clash. Avesh had been struggling with a right knee issue but has made a timely recovery. His deadly Yorkers could prove crucial for LSG on a batting-friendly pitch in Hyderabad, where conditions offer little help to the bowlers.
The Sunrisers, on the other hand, will come out firing on all cylinders, aiming not just to defeat their opponents but also to demoralise them and weaken their mental resolve as the tournament progresses. With their backs against the wall, can the Super Giants defy the odds? It will take a Herculean effort from them.
