Following the unexpected halt of Thursday’s clash between Punjab Kings and Delhi Capitals at Dharamsala’s HPCA Stadium, the Indian Premier League may see a return to routine as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Lucknow Super Giants in match 59 of the 2025 edition at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.
However, rising geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan have cast uncertainty over the tournament. “A decision regarding the IPL’s future will be made tomorrow,” BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla informed The Indian Express after the disrupted PBKS-DC encounter. Reporters Devendra Pandey and Venkata Krishna B also noted that the cricket board is exploring multiple options — which could include a temporary suspension or a revised match schedule.
RCB, long known for falling short despite promise, stand on the cusp of playoff qualification. With 16 points from 11 games, they occupy second place on the table. Meanwhile, Lucknow sits seventh, managing just 10 points from the same number of matches. Despite being the home side, LSG enter as underdogs, given RCB’s flawless away record this season — winning all six matches on the road.
Although LSG’s chances are slim, they are not mathematically out of the playoff race. They must win their remaining three fixtures and rely on favorable outcomes elsewhere in the tournament to stay in contention.
This evening’s match holds high stakes for both — a golden opportunity for RCB and a last-ditch fight for Lucknow.
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