In a major boost for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Avesh Khan made his return to the playing XI for their second IPL 2025 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The match, held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, saw LSG captain Rishabh Pant win the toss and opt to bowl first. Avesh Khan, who had been sidelined due to injury, replaced Shahbaz Ahmed in the team.
Key Highlights:
Pant’s Confident Approach for LSG
Rishabh Pant’s decision to bowl first was met with loud cheers from the crowd, reflecting the excitement around Avesh Khan’s return. Despite the crowd’s enthusiasm for SRH’s powerful batting lineup, Pant remained confident about his team’s ability to chase down any target set by the opposition.
“We have the batting to chase it down,” Pant said, stressing the team’s strength in the second innings. “We got to get them out early and look to chase the target.”
Pant also mentioned that the only change in the squad was Khan’s return, with Shahbaz Ahmed missing out.
LSG’s Strong Playing XI
The Lucknow Super Giants lineup for the match against SRH was as follows:
- Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (C, WK), Abdul Samad, David Miller, Ayush Badoni, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi, and Prince Yadav.
Impact Players: Shahbaz Ahmed, Manimaran Siddharth, Mitchell Marsh, Himmat Singh, Akash Maharaj Singh.
SRH’s Strategy to Bat First
SRH captain Pat Cummins expressed his happiness about batting first, maintaining a positive attitude despite the potential challenges. He emphasized that the team’s approach remains unchanged, aiming to score big and win as a cohesive unit.
“We always try to be positive. Even going for 10 or 11 runs in an over, that can be match-winning on some days,” Cummins said. “We want to win games as a team and do well as a bowling unit.”
SRH’s Playing XI and Impact Substitutes
The Sunrisers Hyderabad lineup for the match included:
- Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen (WK), Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (C), Simarjeet Singh, Harshal Patel, and Mohammed Shami.
Impact subs: Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Adam Zampa, and Wiaan Mulder.
Avesh Khan’s Key Role for LSG
The return of Avesh Khan is particularly significant for LSG, especially as SRH has been eyeing a massive total, with murmurs about potentially going past the 300-run mark. LSG’s bowling attack had been depleted, but Avesh Khan’s previous performance, which included a four-wicket haul against SRH, gives the team hope for keeping the SRH batsmen in check.
LSG’s Potential Edge with Avesh Khan’s Return
With Avesh Khan back in the mix, LSG will be hoping to take advantage of his experience and sharp bowling against a strong SRH side. Pant’s confidence and the team’s ability to chase any target will be key factors as the match unfolds.
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