Why Gujarat Must Beat Lucknow Despite Sealing A Playoff Spot

Although Gujarat has qualified for the playoffs, this match is still vital for Shubman Gill's side.

So far, Gujarat Titans have played 12 matches, winning 9 and sitting at the top of the table with 18 points.

Source : PTI

As Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 moves swiftly toward its playoff stage, the top four teams have already secured their spots. However, the battle for the top-two finish is still intense.

One such key fixture is Gujarat Titans' 13th league match against Lucknow Super Giants, set to take place on Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Although Gujarat has qualified for the playoffs, this match is still vital for Shubman Gill's side.

A win will strengthen Gujarat's grip on top-2

So far, Gujarat Titans have played 12 matches, winning 9 and sitting at the top of the table with 18 points. While qualification is sealed, their focus has now shifted to finishing in the top two. This would give them a second chance to reach the final, even if they lose Qualifier 1

If Gujarat defeats Lucknow, they will move to 20 points, securing their top-two place. However, a loss could open the door for other teams to leapfrog them based on Net Run Rate, pushing them down to third and leaving them with just one chance through the Eliminator route.

Head-to-Head: GT vs LSG

The two teams have faced off 6 times in IPL history:

Gujarat Titans have won 4 matches

Lucknow Super Giants have won 2 matches

This gives GT a slight psychological edge going into Thursday's clash.

Gujarat Titans Squad for IPL 2025

Captain: Shubman Gill

Wicketkeeper: Jos Buttler

Key Players: Sai Sudharsan, Sherfane Rutherford, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar

Full Squad: Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (WK), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Mahipal Lomror, Anuj Rawat, Dasun Shanaka, Gerald Coetzee, Jayant Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu.

Also on ABP Live | IPL 2025 Playoffs: Here's How The Final-4 Equation Could Shape Up