 "IPL 2025 LSG vs MI: Lucknow pitch report, Ekana Stadium key stats")
In 16th match of Indian Premier League (IPl) 2025, Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and invited Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to bat first at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 4 (Friday). Both teams have made one change each. Rohit Sharma has not been playing MI vs LSG match. Check why here IPL 2025 Match 18: PBKS vs RR full scorecard | Playing 11 | Mullanpur Stadium stats | PBKS vs RR live score Check CSK vs DC live score, match commentary and updates here Check IPL 2025 Match 17 - CSK vs DC - full scorecard here ALSO READ: CSK vs DC Chennai Pitch report | CSK vs DC Playing 11 | CSK vs DC head to head | Match 17 - IPL 2025 Here's the playing 11 of both the teams:
Lucknow Super Giants (Playing XI): Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan.
Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Vignesh Puthur
On the other hand, Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya, also secured their first win in a dominant fashion over Kolkata Knight Riders. They will be looking to continue their winning streak with another strong performance against LSG.
Ekana Stadium, Lucknow: Pitch report for LSG vs MI IPL 2025
Pitch & Conditions – Ganga’s take: A shift in soil, a twist in the tale
Get ready for a new battlefield — the action moves from pitch number 4 to pitch number 6, and with that, a dramatic change in conditions is on the cards. Red soil makes way for black, and with it, the character of this surface takes on an entirely different mood.
Speaking from the centre, Daren Ganga paints the picture: “It’s dark, it’s black, and it’s deceptive.” Covered lightly in grass but riddled with bare patches, this black soil strip promises lower bounce, slower pace, and more assistance for the spinners.
The square boundaries will test angles and power: 73 and 66 metres on the sides, 78 metres straight down the ground. Bowlers will need to adapt, and batters will need to pick their spots.
In the last game on the red-soil pitch, seam movement was minimal, spin turned only 1.4 degrees, and the bounce was true — ideal for stroke-making. But now, expect a grippier surface, where timing won't come easy, and spinners might just take centre stage.
If you're batting first, 181 is your magic number — the average first innings score here, and a benchmark teams will aim for. But on this darker, trickier strip, even that could feel like a mountain.
A new pitch. A new challenge. And possibly, a new hero.
Ekana Stadium, Lucknow: IPL T20 stats
VENUE – EKANA CRICKET STADIUM, LUCKNOW (IN T20s SINCE 2024 IPL)
• Matches - 8, Bat 1st Won – 3, Bat 2nd Won – 5
• Avg 1st Inns score – 181/6
• Lowest Total Defended – 163, Highest Target Chased – 197
• 200+ Totals : 1 time in 8 matches | Sixes Per Match - 14
• Pace: Overs% - 63, Wkts – 63, Avg – 28.6, Eco – 9.3
Spin: Overs% - 37, Wkts – 27, Avg – 34.6, Eco – 8.3
• Winning Score at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow (in T20s since 2023 IPL)
◦ 1st Inns score 180 or above: Mts – 3, Bat 1st Won – 1, Bat 2nd Won – 1
◦ 1st Inns score less than 180: Mts – 5, Bat 1st Won – 1, Bat 2nd Won – 4
• Overall team record:
◦ LSG: Mts – 15, Won – 7, Lost – 7, N/R - 1 (Win % - 55)
◦ MI: Mts – 2, Won – 0, Lost – 2 (Win % - 0)
The last encounter at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow saw the Punjab Kings registering a comfortable 8-wicket win against the hosts LSG as they chased down 171 within 16.2 overs on the night.
Other key stats for Ekana Stadium, Lucknow
| Ekana Stadium key stats | |
| Category | Statistic |
| Matches Played | 15 |
| Matches Won Batting First | 7 (46.67%) |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 7 (46.67%) |
| Matches Won Winning Toss | 9 (60.00%) |
| Matches Won Losing Toss | 5 (33.33%) |
| Matches with No Result | 1 (6.67%) |
| Highest Individual Innings | 89* M P Stoinis (Lucknow Super Giants) |
| 16/05/2023 v Mumbai Indians | |
| Best Bowling | 5/14 M A Wood (Lucknow Super Giants) |
| 01/04/2023 v Delhi Capitals | |
| Highest Team Innings | 235/6 (Kolkata Knight Riders) |
| 05/05/2024 v Lucknow Super Giants | |
| Lowest Team Innings | 108 (Lucknow Super Giants) |
| 01/05/2023 v Royal Challengers Bengaluru | |
| Highest Run Chase Achieved | 177/2 (Punjab Kings) |
| 01/04/2025 v Lucknow Super Giants | |
| Average Runs per Wicket | 25.23 |
| Average Runs per Over | 8.27 |
| Average Score Batting First | 165.8 |