In Match 40 of IPL 2025, Lucknow Super Giants host Delhi Capitals. Having suffered a narrow 1-wicket win to DC in their first game of the seasons, LSG will eye revenge in a match where KL Rahul returns to his former home ground in Lucknow. DC and LSG have a chance to match Gujarat Titans’ tally of 12 points. DC are 2nd while LSG are fifth with same points. But they are separated by net run rate. LSG will look to improve their NRR.
Match Details
- Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Delhi Capitals, IPL 2025 Match 40
- Date: April 22, 2025
- Venue: Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Live Streaming: JioCinema App, Star Sports Network
- Weather: Clear, around 27°C, 42% humidity, no rain expected, slight dew possible in the second innings.
Match Preview
The 40th match of IPL 2025 pits Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) against Delhi Capitals (DC) in a crucial mid-season clash. Both teams are in the top four, with DC holding second place (5 wins, 2 losses) and LSG in fourth (5 wins, 3 losses). Their earlier encounter this season (Match 4) was a thriller, with DC chasing 209, thanks to Ashutosh Sharma’s unbeaten 66 off 31.
LSG, coming off a dramatic win against Rajasthan Royals powered by Avesh Khan’s final-over heroics, will look to leverage their home advantage. DC, despite a recent loss to Gujarat Titans, have been formidable, driven by Kuldeep Yadav’s 12 wickets in 7 games. The emotional stakes are high, with KL Rahul facing his former team LSG and Rishabh Pant leading LSG against his old franchise DC. Expect a high-intensity battle as both teams aim to solidify their playoff chances.
Ekana Stadium Pitch Report
The Ekana Cricket Stadium pitch in 2025 has been batting-friendly, unlike its spin-heavy past. The average first-innings score is around 180, with recent matches showing higher totals. Three out of four games this season were won by teams chasing, suggesting captains may prefer to bowl first due to potential dew. The surface offers a fair contest, with pacers and spinners getting some assistance, but boundaries are achievable on the red-soil pitch with good pace and bounce.
LSG vs DC Head-to-Head Records
The head-to-head is evenly split, but DC have won the last two encounters, including a dramatic one-wicket victory earlier this season.
- Matches Played: 6
- LSG Wins: 3
- DC Wins: 3
Predicted Playing 11
Predicted LSG Playing XI
LSG’s batting relies on Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, with Pooran’s 499 runs last season at a 178.21 strike rate making him a game-changer. Avesh Khan’s recent form (3 wickets vs RR) bolsters their pace attack, but injuries to Mayank Yadav and Akash Deep weaken their bowling depth.
- Aiden Markram
- Mitchell Marsh
- Nicholas Pooran
- Rishabh Pant (c & wk)
- David Miller
- Abdul Samad
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Shardul Thakur
- Mayank Yadav
- Digvesh Singh Rathi
- Avesh Khan
- Impact Player: Ayush Badoni/ Prince Yadav
Predicted DC Playing XI
With out-of-form Jake Fraser-McGurk dropped, Abhishek Porel has found a new opening partner Karun Nair. It is a makeshift arrangement as Faf du Plessis is still not fit. If Du Plessis returns, he will open with Porel with Nair at No 3. KL Rahul will then move back to No 4 spot. Kuldeep Yadav (12 wickets in IPL 2025) and Starc (3/42 vs LSG) lead a potent bowling unit.
- Karun Nair
- Abishek Porel (wk)
- KL Rahul
- Tristan Stubbs
- Axar Patel (c)
- Ashutosh Sharma
- Vipraj Nigam
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Mitchell Starc
- Mohit Sharma
- Mukesh Kumar
- Impact Player: Donovan Ferreira
Predicted Winner
Delhi Capitals are favored to win with a 60% probability. Their recent head-to-head dominance, superior bowling attack led by Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc, and Ashutosh Sharma’s clutch finishing give them an edge. LSG’s home advantage and batting firepower, driven by Pooran and Pant, make them dangerous, but their depleted pace attack and reliance on Ravi Bishnoi for spin may struggle against DC’s deep batting lineup. The batting-friendly pitch suits DC’s aggressive top order, and their ability to chase high totals (evidenced by the 209-run chase in Vizag) tilts the scales in their favor.
