As the league stage of IPL 2025 approaches its climax, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) face a crucial, high-stakes match against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on May 27 at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium. For RCB, this is a must-win encounter, with a coveted top-two finish and a direct spot in Qualifier 1 hanging in the balance. Punjab Kings have already sealed their place in the top two, so RCB’s hopes of joining them rest entirely on this final group game. Securing this position would give RCB two shots at reaching the IPL final—a significant advantage in such a fiercely competitive tournament.
RCB, captained by Rajat Patidar this season, have been in scintillating form throughout the league, showcasing aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. However, their recent loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad has complicated their pathway, leaving this last group match as the definitive test of their playoff credentials. Their opponents, led by Rishabh Pant, are coming off a strong 33-run victory over Gujarat Titans and look rejuvenated, which means RCB cannot afford to be complacent despite being favourites on paper.
One of the biggest talking points ahead of this clash is the potential return of pacer Josh Hazlewood, who has recovered from a shoulder injury and rejoined the squad just in time. His presence could significantly bolster RCB’s bowling attack as they prepare for the high-pressure playoffs. With Jacob Bethell now back in England for national duty, the responsibility of anchoring RCB’s top order will largely fall on the experienced shoulders of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt.
For LSG, while playoff hopes have faded, pride and momentum remain at stake. Mitchell Marsh has been in red-hot form, highlighted by his maiden IPL century against Gujarat Titans. Nicholas Pooran also seeks to finish his campaign on a high note. However, all eyes will be on Rishabh Pant, whose hefty price tag and star status come with expectations to deliver consistently in what has been a challenging debut season for him with Lucknow.
Historically, the head-to-head record between the two teams slightly favours RCB, who have won three of the five matches played so far. LSG have two wins, including a convincing 28-run victory over RCB in their last encounter back in April 2024, adding extra motivation for both sides.
In terms of team composition, RCB’s lineup might see some changes. The return of Josh Hazlewood is yet to be confirmed for this game, while the absence of Jacob Bethell opens a gap in the middle order. Replacements such as Tim Seifert from New Zealand and Zimbabwe’s pacer Blessings Muzarabani have joined the squad recently, raising the question of whether either will get a chance in this critical fixture. Meanwhile, LSG are expected to field the same XI that triumphed over Gujarat Titans, relying on their in-form players.
The predicted XI for Lucknow Super Giants includes Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper/captain), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Akash Deep, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, and Ravi Bishnoi. Digvesh Rathi and Prince Yadav remain key impact substitutes who could be called upon depending on match situations.
For Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the probable playing XI consists of Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar (captain), Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal.
The pitch at Ekana Stadium offers a fascinating blend of red and black soil, presenting a balanced contest between bat and ball. If the red soil component dominates, batsmen can expect consistent bounce and a relatively batting-friendly surface. However, patches of black soil could aid spin bowlers like Krunal Pandya and Digvesh Rathi, who could exploit the additional grip and turn. The unpredictable nature of this pitch has already been demonstrated this season—LSG successfully chased down a total of 166 against Chennai Super Kings here, indicating the pitch’s variable conditions.
With temperatures forecasted to soar beyond 36 degrees Celsius and high humidity expected, the players will face challenging physical conditions. Dew will likely play a role in the second innings, making it advantageous for the team winning the toss to bowl first and chase under more favourable conditions.
In fact, the last match played on this surface saw Sunrisers Hyderabad put up a massive total of 231 batting first against RCB, who struggled to keep up and eventually lost by 42 runs. This underlines the importance of adapting strategies to the Ekana pitch conditions.
With so much riding on this fixture—from RCB’s playoff hopes to LSG’s quest for a strong finish—the clash promises to be a thrilling, high-pressure encounter that could set the tone for the rest of the IPL season.
