- April 28, 2025
After what can only be termed a terrible performance at Wankhede, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) find themselves at a very difficult juncture in IPL 2025. A 54-run drubbing from the Mumbai Indians not only dented their ego, but sunk their net run rate to a shaky -0.325 and made fans do playoff calculations at 2 AM! They only have four games left, and the playoff situation is tighter than ever, so the big question is: Can LSG still qualify for the playoffs?
Let’s analyse it step by step, game by game, stat by stat, and see what Rishabh Pant and his boys must do to prolong their season.
LSG’s Current Situation
First off, let’s talk about the basics. After 10 matches, LSG has a record of 5 wins and 5 losses – not great, but not exactly terrible either. They currently sit sixth on the points table, in the congested mid-table traffic jam. Normally, you want to end up with roughly 16 points (depending on the NRR) to secure a playoff position without drama! Sounds easy enough? Not. Sounds possible? Absolutely!
Ultimately, it’s not just about getting wins now. Even if they get to the often-accepted 16 points, they could still be done in by NRR. Every win now is vitally important, and if they were to lose, it must be from a narrow margin. Even literally every run count!
If 16 Points Feels Tough, Is 14 Enough?
Now, this is interesting, assuming the overall competition stays frantic (and honestly, it’s IPL after all), you could see LSG sneak in with 14 points. How? You’d need to get maybe two of the four wins you have left and more than a little bit of help from the other teams, so that I, the Titans, Sunrisers, or Royals, forget how to win cricket matches.
But let’s just say there are 14 points, NRR will also become a king. Lose two games badly, and LSG can kinda prepare for the longer off-season by leaving early.
Four Games That Will Define Their Season
Punjab Kings are famously inconsistent – LSG must take advantage. RCB have been up and down all year and are a home must-win target. The actual challenges? Gujarat Titans, who still have a few points up for grabs in their playoff bid, and Sunrisers Hyderabad, who could still be looking to grab a top 4 spot on that last day.
Every game, from here on, is a mini-final for Lucknow. Rishabh Pant must get everybody involved; the batting unit needs to change gears, and the bowlers, to be honest, cannot perform like they did against MI.
At this point in the competition, it would set things up beautifully for Lucknow if they could win the next two games and relieve some pressure before going into the last two challenging fixtures.
Bottom line: LSG’s path to the IPL 2025 playoffs is still open, but it’s going to be a bumpy ride. They need to win 3 out of 4 to feel safe, or win 2 and hope for a little chaos elsewhere. Each run, each over is going to matter from here on out.
So, can Rishabh Pant and co? Pull off the great escape and earn their playoff ticket? Or, are we witnessing the beginning of a heartbreak story in Lucknow?
What game do you think will be the tipping point for LSG? Sound off in the comments!
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