LSG vs RCB Live: Score Updates, Playing XI, Pitch Report & Fantasy Tips for Today’s IPL 2025 Showdown

The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is buzzing as Lucknow Super Giants face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the final league game of IPL 2025. A top-two finish—and the security of two shots at the final—hangs on the result for RCB, while LSG are chasing pride and momentum for next season. Power-packed start after toss advantage Stand-in skipper Jitesh Sharma called correctly and invited LSG to bat. The decision paid instant dividends when sling-arm debutant Nuwan Thushara knocked over Matthew Breetzke with a searing yorker. At the first time-out the scoreboard read 44/1 (4 ov), with Mitchell Marsh and Rishabh Pant—fresh off a towering slog-swept six—trying to rebuild. Probable scores on this surface hover around 170–180, but early stroke-play suggests both sides will hunt something closer to 200 to stay safe. Playing XIs Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Breetzke, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c&wk), Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Himmat Singh, Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, Will O’Rourke Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Phil Salt, Mayank Agarwal, Jitesh Sharma (c&wk), Liam Livingstone, Romario Shepherd, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, Nuwan Thushara, Suyash Sharma Play-off mathematics • Win for RCB ⇒ leapfrog Gujarat Titans, finish second (or even first with a big NRR surge) and meet Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1. • Loss for RCB ⇒ remain third, drop into the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians—historically the toughest road to a maiden title. Key battles to watch 1. Mitchell Marsh vs Josh Hazlewood—or tonight, Thushara: Marsh smashed a 112 last outing; a quick strike is vital for Bengaluru. 2. Nicholas Pooran vs left-arm spin: Krunal Pandya’s overs in the middle could define the chase. 3. Virat Kohli’s milestone hunt: 24 runs short of 9,000 for RCB and one fifty away from an IPL record 63 half-centuries. Expect search traffic to surge around “Kohli record vs LSG”. Pitch & conditions The Ekana strip is hard with an even grass cover, but its large square boundaries (64 m, 66 m) temper six-hitting. Dew traditionally slides in post 9 pm, making RCB’s chase-friendly gamble logical. Teams batting second have won five of seven here this season. First-innings snapshot (at 8 pm IST) LSG 68/1 in 6 ov — Powerplay belonged to Pant and Marsh, who peppered square leg with three sixes off Dayal. Thushara’s figures stand at 2-0-14-1, showcasing why RCB drafted him straight in for the injured Hazlewood. What LSG need • A Marsh-Pooran partnership deep into the 15th over. • 175+ target to stretch RCB’s relatively new middle order of Livingstone and Shepherd. • Digvesh Rathi’s wrist-spin to exploit any grip once lights take full effect. What RCB will fancy • Early breakthroughs from Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s powerplay swing. • Kohli-Salt rollicking start to neutralise Rathi. • Shepherd’s death-overs hitting: RCB hold the league’s best run rate between overs 17-20 (11.2). Stat corner • RCB are chasing a perfect seven wins in seven away fixtures—an IPL first. • Head-to-head reads RCB 3 – LSG 2 since the latter joined the league in 2022. • Pant’s last three knocks at Ekana: 56, 8, 42*—his form tonight could swing fantasy-league fortunes. Search-friendly quick links & FAQs – “LSG vs RCB live score today” updates every over. – “LSG vs RCB highlights video” to be available shortly after stumps. – “Who won LSG vs RCB toss?” Answer: RCB, opted to bowl. – “Top scorer LSG vs RCB 2025” currently Marsh 32*(17). Stay tuned as we bring real-time LSG vs RCB scorecard refreshes, player milestones and the final playoff picture from IPL 2025’s closing league clash.