Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are in freefall, and it doesn’t get any easier in the 59th match of IPL 2025. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who have won all their away games this season, travel to Lucknow looking to move to the top of the table.

LSG have lost four of their past five matches to leave their season on life support. They must win each of their last three games to get to 16 points, but their net run rate of -0.469 means they need to win big. They have lost heavily in their past two games, leaking runs at an alarming rate.

If LSG don’t get it right here, RCB can take advantage. RCB’s openers have been excellent, as have their finishers with Tim David and Romario Shepherd changing matches down the order. Also, the RCB attack has often worked well as a unit, and they will be looking to restrict the LSG top order tonight.

In this article, we will look at the possible playing XIIs, Lucknow pitch report, fantasy cricket tips and Dream11 prediction for the 59th match of IPL 2025.

IPL 2025 59th Match: LSG vs RCB Possible Playing XIIs

LSG could pick the same XII that lost to PBKS, unless they decide to bring Shardul Thakur back.

Lucknow Super Giants: 1. Aiden Markram, 2. Mitchell Marsh, 3. Nicholas Pooran, 4. Rishabh Pant (c & wk), 5. Ayush Badoni, 6. David Miller, 7. Abdul Samad, 8. Avesh Khan, 9. Prince Yadav/Shardul Thakur, 10. Mayank Yadav, 11. Digvesh Rathi, 12. Akash Singh

Devdutt Padikkal has been ruled out of IPL 2025 with a hamstring injury. Mayank Agarwal has been signed as his injury replacement.

According to reports, Josh Hazlewood is expected to be fit for this clash after missing the CSK game with a shoulder niggle. Phil Salt is also a chance of returning, but Jacob Bethell has been excellent at the top, so a difficult decision could await RCB.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 1. Jacob Bethell/Phil Salt, 2. Virat Kohli, 3. Mayank Agarwal, 4. Rajat Patidar (c), 5. Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6. Tim David, 7. Romario Shepherd, 8. Krunal Pandya, 9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Yash Dayal, 12. Suyash Sharma

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium Lucknow Pitch Report and Weather

The average first innings score on this ground is 175.8. Chasing teams have won four of the five matches. The only time the team batting first won was when LSG made 200+ against MI on April 5.

Pacers have taken 37 wickets this season in Lucknow, compared to 18 by spinners. Expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to bowl.

A hot and mostly clear evening is forecast with a top of about 32 degrees at match time.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for LSG vs RCB: Top Picks/Key Players to Watch

Top wicket-keeper picks:

• Nicholas Pooran is comfortably the safest wicket-keeper pick for this match (if Salt doesn’t play), although he has scored just 60 runs in his past five innings. Against RCB, Pooran has scored 202 runs at an average of 28.86 and strike rate of 171.19.

Key batter picks:

• Virat Kohli has struck four consecutive half-centuries and five half-centuries in his past six innings. Virat, with 505 runs, is just five runs behind Orange Cap holder Suryakumar Yadav.
• Mitch Marsh has scores of 60, 30 and 45 in his past three matches at Lucknow. Marsh has been one of LSG’s top performers with 378 runs at a strike rate of 155.55 this season.
• Ayush Badoni has been in magnificent touch. He has scored 20+ in his last eight innings, including two fifties in his past four matches. Batting first this season, Badoni has scored 183 runs (avg. 30.5, SR 141.9). Batting second, he has scored 143 runs (avg. 47.7, SR 162.5).

Top all-rounder picks:

• Krunal Pandya has been one of RCB’s top performers this season. The left-arm spinner has 14 wickets at a strike rate of 15.00. Spinners have taken 18 wickets at Lucknow this season – one of the more spinner friendly grounds in IPL 2025.
• Aiden Markram has three fifties in his past four matches at Lucknow. Given RCB have many right-handers, Markram’s bowling involvement is expected to be limited.

Key bowler picks:

• Pick Josh Hazlewood with confidence if he is selected. He is the second-highest wicket-taker this season (18), taking wickets consistently in the crunch overs.
• Digvesh Rathi knows these conditions well. He has an average of one wicket per match at Lucknow at an economy of just 6.40.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Jacob Bethell has made a strong impact in IPL 2025. He hit a 33-ball 55vs CSK and will look to go after LSG’s struggling attack here.
• Romario Shepherd can be a good differential pick if RCB bats first. He will look to finish strongly against LSG’s expensive attack.
• Rajat Patidar has struggled for momentum in recent matches. But, he has had past success against LSG (141 runs, avg. 141, SR 188).

Stats and Other Important Matchups

• Head-to-head: Matches 5, LSG 2, RCB 3.
• Mitch Marsh has 250 runs against pace this season at an average of 31.2 and strike rate of 170.1. Against spin, the opener has struck 128 runs at a strike rate of 134.7 with one dismissal.
• Avesh Khan vs RCB: 7 inns, 5 wickets, econ. 9.82.
• Avesh Khan vs Virat Kohli: 41 balls, 70 runs, two wickets.
• Josh Hazlewood vs Nicholas Pooran in T20s: 11 balls, 11 runs, one wicket.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Nicholas Pooran in T20s: 50 balls, 72 runs, two wickets.

IPL 2025 59th Match: LSG vs RCB Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

IPL 2025 59th Match: LSG vs RCB Match Prediction – Who will win?

RCB to win.