LSG’s IPL 2025 Struggles Linked to Fast-Bowling Woes Despite Strong Start

Suspense crime, Digital Desk : The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) seem to have hit a slump in form during IPL 2025, having had a spectacular start to their journey in 2022 and 2023. Their initial success stemmed from a robust fast-bowling unit, and this season has highlighted a glaring problem in their pace attack due to injuries and squad changes.  

It’s Clear Their Bowling Advantage is No Longer Employed  

The effectiveness of LSG’s bowling unit saw them finish second only to the Gujarat Titans (GT) in 2022 and 2023. They averaged 26.48 with the ball and matched GT’s economy rate of 8.31. Their pace bowlers had a dominant strike rate of 17.3, averaging 25.41. Their success while defending totals also eclipsed the win-loss records with 85.7 percent success rate topping in W-L record.  

After LSG’s mega auction, they changed their focus to a more batting heavy approach and experienced pace rotation. This forced reliance puts a lot of pressure on Mohsin Khan and Mayank Yadav in the lead seam slots, who are injured and need to rely on part-time or inexperienced bowlers.Statistical Dip and Inexperienced Attack

Assessed at the outset of IPL 2025, LSG's seam attack possessed T20 experience that was, statistically, the least seasoned, with a mere 649 T20 wickets combined, which was the lowest for all the 10 teams. Shardul Thakur and other players who were unavailable and added later did not make any difference—their seamers had IPL wickets tallying to 96, while SRH and MI had 436.  

The fast-bowling performance has dipped sharply:  
Economy rate of 10.64 (the highest of all teams)  
Bowling average of 38.03 (next to last for RR)  
Powerplay economy of 10.67 (vs 8.57 for LSG spinners)  
Death overs economy of 11.36 (second worse after RR)  

LSG also becomes the third team in history where two seamers conceding 50+ runs has become a common occurrence which speaks volumes about the state of their bowling.  
 
Digvesh Rathi: A Rare Bright Spot  

In the midst of the bowling mayhem, Digvesh Rathi has been a beacon of hope. His powerplay spin and control paired with his adaptability across the phase somewhat balances the damage created by the pace attack. In 2025, LSG have bowled the highest number of spin overs in the powerplay relative to other teams, but the strategy has marginally paid off.

Batting Dependence and Retreat

Initially, LSG aimed to bat SRH-like opponents out of games because their bowlers were underperforming. The strategy was successful, with the returns of Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh yielding four wins out of their first six matches, but they have now hit a rough patch as well. This, coupled with LSG’s overt reliance on top order batters, has exposed LSG’s fault lines.
Whatever the top order does, Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad have put up some fight lower down the order, as was the case in 199/7 against Punjab in Dharamsala. However, their playoff push has been stalled due to a lack of consistent bowling support.

Comparative Bowling Data Pre IPL 2025 (Fast Bowlers)

Economy declines to 295 excluding Mohsin, Shardul, and “Marsh”

What LSG Lost with Avesh Khan’s Departure

A comprehensive analysis of Avesh Khan shows he was LSG’s most impactful player towards the backend of 2022. His 3/11 in the death at Jaipur gave RR a rare 3/11 at the death and showcased something LSG lacks sorely – a death-over specialist. Such other pacers haven’t been able to consistently provide back these performances.

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