KKN Gurugram Desk | The 16th match of IPL 2025 will witness an exciting clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The match is scheduled to take place at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, on Friday, April 5, 2025. Both teams are in search of a much-needed victory as they continue to find their rhythm in the tournament.

Mumbai Indians, under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, have been struggling to find their form. Despite their rich IPL history, MI has only won 1 out of the 3 matches they have played so far in IPL 2025. Meanwhile, Lucknow Super Giants, led by Rishabh Pant, are also grappling with consistency issues, having secured just 1 win out of 3 matches.

This upcoming match is crucial for both teams, as they aim to turn their fortunes around. But before we dive into the team analysis, let’s take a closer look at the Ekana Cricket Stadium pitch report and how it could play a crucial role in shaping the outcome of the game.

Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report: What to Expect?

Ekana Cricket Stadium, located in Lucknow, has become a prominent venue in the IPL. With its large boundaries and consistent pitch, it offers a balanced contest between the bat and the ball. Let’s break down the characteristics of the pitch and how it’s likely to behave during this IPL 2025 clash.

Match Statistics at Ekana Cricket Stadium (as of IPL 2025):

• Total Matches Played: 15

• Matches Won by the Team Batting First: 7

• Matches Won by the Team Batting Second: 7

• Matches Won by Toss Winners: 9

• Matches Won by Toss Losers: 5

• No Result: 1

Highest Team Total:

• 235/6 by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) against LSG in 2024

Lowest Team Total:

• 108 by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Average Score When Batting First:

• 165 Runs

Highest Individual Score:

• 89 Runs* by Marcus Stoinis (LSG)

Best Bowling Performance:

• 5/14 by Mark Wood (LSG)

Pitch Behaviour:

The Ekana Cricket Stadium pitch generally offers a good balance for both batsmen and bowlers. The surface tends to be slightly on the slower side, which often favors spinners, especially during the second innings. However, the pitch can still provide enough bounce for the fast bowlers to extract some pace, especially with the new ball.

Batsmen need to be cautious during the initial overs, but once they settle in, the pitch allows them to play their shots freely. The outfield is generally fast, so boundaries are easily achievable if the batsman strikes the ball cleanly. In recent matches, we have seen decent totals put up by teams batting first, with an average score of around 165. Teams batting second have also had success, indicating that there is no significant advantage to either team based solely on the toss.

Key Factor: The presence of both Pusy Nakhstras and Sukarma Yog on the day of the match further amplifies the importance of playing with balance and caution.

MI vs LSG Head-to-Head Record

Both Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) have faced each other a few times in IPL history, but the results have leaned heavily in LSG’s favor.

Head-to-Head Stats:

• Total Matches Played: 6

• Lucknow Super Giants Wins: 5

• Mumbai Indians Wins: 1

• Matches with No Result: 0

• Matches Played at Ekana Stadium:

  • LSG Wins: 2

  • MI Wins: 0

This record suggests that Lucknow Super Giants have been the dominant side in this fixture, especially at home, where they have won both the games played at Ekana. Mumbai Indians will be hoping to turn this record around and secure a vital win to regain their momentum in the tournament.

MI vs LSG: Predicted Playing XI

Both teams have key players who could make a significant impact in the upcoming match. Here is a look at the predicted playing XI for both teams:

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG):

1. Nicholas Pooran (Wicketkeeper/Batsman)

2. Rishabh Pant (Captain)

3. Aayush Badoni

4. David Miller

5. Aiden Markram

6. Abdul Samad

7. Mitchell Marsh

8. Ravi Bishnoi (Spinner)

9. Dighev Singh (Bowler)

10. Avesh Khan (Fast Bowler)

11. Shardul Thakur (All-rounder)

Mumbai Indians (MI):

1. Rohit Sharma (Captain)

2. Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper)

3. Suryakumar Yadav

4. Hardik Pandya

5. Kieron Pollard

6. Tim David

7. Jofra Archer

8. Riley Meredith

9. Jasprit Bumrah

10. Cameron Green

11. Shams Mulani

Both teams have explosive batting line-ups, with key players like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav in the MI camp, and Rishabh Pant and David Miller in the LSG squad. The battle between the fast bowlers and spinners will be crucial, with Jasprit Bumrah and Mark Wood being key players to watch out for in the bowling department.

The MI vs LSG IPL 2025 match at Ekana Cricket Stadium promises to be an exciting contest. While Mumbai Indians have a slightly weaker record in the recent face-offs against Lucknow Super Giants, they will be looking to break their losing streak and bounce back with a victory. Lucknow, on the other hand, will aim to continue their dominance over MI, especially on home turf.

As per the pitch report, Ekana Cricket Stadium offers a balanced surface that can favor both bowlers and batsmen. Teams need to play with discipline, especially in the early overs, to ensure that they set or chase a competitive total. The key for both teams will be to get their top-order batsmen in form and utilize their bowlers effectively in the middle and death overs.