After a promising start, Lucknow Super Giants' 2025 IPL campaign started to sink, leaving slim chances for playoff qualification.

Find out what went wrong and everyone's answer to the ultimate question: Can LSG make it to the top 4 in IPL 2025?

LSG in IPL 2025 so far

LSG won 5 matches out of 11 played so far, with a poor net run rate of -0.469 and 10 points. They had a decent start to the tournament with players like Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Ravi Bishnoi and Digvesh Rathi stepping out for the team. 

They struggled to build momentum later on in the tournament, which led them to just 1 victory in their last 5 matches.

Read Also: IPL Facts: Lowest Total Defended in IPL

Performance breakdown:

• Position: 7th position in points table
• Matches played: 11 matches 
• Wins: 5 matches
• Losses: 6 matches
• Points: 10 points
• Net Run Rate (NRR): -0.469, which is the worst among the top seven teams

What exactly went wrong?

The following factors significantly disrupted LSG's gameplay, which resulted in their miserable position for the playoffs:

• Rishabh Pant's poor form: Captain Rishabh Pant is having a disappointing season with the bat, which has practically crushed the team's backbone. He managed to score only 128 runs in 11 innings with a strike rate below 100.
• Inconsistent top-order: The opening pair, despite having good individual performances, haven't consistently fired together.
• Middle-order Reliance: Players like Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad have shown brilliance in some matches, but they weren't enough to carry the team forward after their regular collapse of top order.
• Bowling Inconsistencies: LSG's bowling attack has failed with their execution in matches, and was seen struggling to contain the batters in the death overs.
• Poor Fielding: They dropped catches at crucial times in the game, which cost them heavily. Additionally, the players could have saved more runs with more on-field efforts.

Read Also: Rishabh Pant in IPL 2025 so far

Playoff scenario and hopes for a miraculous comeback 

LSG currently has a huge burden of net run rate, which can have a damaging impact even if they win their 3 remaining matches in IPL 2025. They can reach a maximum of 16 points to end the group stage.

In IPL, ending with 16 points would promise a place in the top 4, but the scenario for LSG is different this year. Additionally, they will also need other factors to be in their favour.

Factors and mathematical possibilities

The chances are slim, but here's what they need to consider for qualification:

1. Last 3 hurdles: They have 3 remaining matches to play with RCB (9th May), GT (14th May), and SRH (18th May).
2. Wins required: LSG must win all three matches with huge margins to make their NRR better.
3. Reliance on other teams: They will need to depend on other teams to lose which will be beneficial for them in case of tie-breakers of same points. The team having a better NRR will eventually qualify.
4. Elimination Scenario: LSG will be eliminated from IPL 2025 playoff contention if they lose a single match. They will also lose their chances of being in the top-4 if rain washes away any of their matches.

Sai Sudharsan starred in the IPL 2025 awards winners full list by winning 4 individual awards. Sai won the Orange cap while Prasidh Krishna won the Purple cap of IPL 2025. Meanwhile, youngster Vaibhav Suryavanshi also won the Super Striker of the season award for his excellent strike rate of 206.55 in the tournament this season. 

Here is the full list of IPL 2025 award winners

Emerging Player: Sai Sudharsan

Sudharsan won the IPL 2025 Emerging Player of the season award for his excellent season with the bat for the Gujarat Titans. The young left-handed opener finished with 759 runs with a strike rate of 156.17. 

Super Striker: Vaibhav Suryavanshi

The 14-year-old youngster from Bihar broke multiple records this season with a 35-ball century. Vaibhav finished the season with a strike rate of 206.55 to win the Super Striker award.

Fantasy King: Sai Sudharsan

Sai Sudharsan also won the Fantasy King of the season award for acquiring the most points on the Fantasy App. 

Fantasy firepower 🔥

Yet another honour for #GT's Sai Sudharsan as he tops the Fantasy charts 🔢#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @sais_1509 | @gujarat_titans pic.twitter.com/qx6USzZi8E

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

Most sixes: Nicholas Pooran

With 40 sixes in the season, West Indian power hitter Nicholas Pooran won the most sixes award. Shreyas Iyer with 39 sixes just finished one spot behind him.

Most fours: Sai Sudharsan

Sai Sudharsan with 88 fours won the most fours award of IPL 2025. He was way ahead of Suryakumar Yadav on the list, who finished with 69 fours.

Most dot balls: Md. Siraj

Mohammed Siraj, with 151 dot balls, won the award for the Most dot balls of the season. Prasidh Krishna finished second on the list with 146 dot balls.

Catch of the season: Kamindu Mendis

Kamindu Mendis' excellent catch on the boundary line to dismiss Dewald Brevis earned him the catch of the season award. 

Catch of the Season to Kamindu Mendis!

(Witness at 10 Sec)pic.twitter.com/XTxjpBMuam

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) June 3, 2025

FairPlay: CSK

Chennai Super Kings won the FairPlay Award for the IPL 2025 season.

Purple Cap: Prasidh Krishna

Prasidh Krishna, with 25 wickets in 15 matches, won the Purple cap award. Noor Ahmed finished just behind him with 24 wickets in 14 matches. 

Draped in blue, enjoying a 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙡𝙚 patch 👏

Congratulations to #TATAIPL 2025 Purple Cap winner Prasidh Krishna 💙🫡#RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @gujarat_titans | @prasidh43 pic.twitter.com/tgviyjgzwz

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

Orange Cap: Sai Sudharsan

With 759 runs at a strike rate of 156.17, Sai Sudharsan won the Orange cap of the season. Suryakumar Yadav, with 717 runs, finished second on the list.

MVP: Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged the Player of the tournament for his 717 runs at a strike rate of 167.91. Yadav averaged 65.18 in the tournament and was one of the key players for the Mumbai Indians. 

𝗠𝗩𝗣 = 𝐒𝐊𝐘 👏

The highly consistent Surya Kumar Yadav wins the Most Valuable Player Award 💙#TATAIPL | #RCBvPBKS | #Final | #TheLastMile | @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/ZOgcBD0Xwb

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 3, 2025

Best Ground: DDCA

Delhi District and Cricket Association won the Best Ground of IPL 2025 award. 

Player of the final: Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya became the first player to win two player of the final awards after his excellent spell of 17/2 in four overs. Krunal had earlier won the award with the Mumbai Indians as well in the 2017 final.

The IPL 2025 Purple Cap is still on the head of Prasidh Krishna. In the Qualifier 2 match between Punjab and Mumbai, Trent Bolt had a chance to go ahead of Prasidh. But Bolt's magic did not work in this match. Now Mumbai's team is out of IPL. In such a situation, Bolt's number of wickets will also not increase.

Also Read: IPL 2025 Orange Cap Winners List

Who is ahead among bowlers?

Talking IPL 2025 Purple Cap contenders, Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans is still number one. Prasidh has 25 wickets in 15 matches. Noor Ahmed of Chennai Super Kings is at number two with 24 wickets. But his team has been eliminated.

The biggest challenge for Prasidh Krishna is Josh Hazlewood of Royal Challengers Bangaluru. Hazlewood has 21 wickets in 11 matches. He is also the kind of bowler who can take five or six wickets in a match. If Hazlewood manages to do this against Punjab Kings in the final, he will make the path to Purple Cap very easily.

Also Read: Most 50+ scores as a captain in IPL playoffs

IPL 2025 Purple Cap Winners List

The picture of who will win the Orange Cap in IPL 2025 has become completely clear, but the place of Suryakumar Yadav, who came second, is still in danger. Virat Kohli is still in the race for the IPL 2025 Orange Cap, but he will hardly be able to leave Sai Sudharsan behind, but he has a chance to leave Surya behind.

Also Read: IPL Finals and finalists since 2008

On the other hand, Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer, who played an unbeaten 87-run innings against Mumbai Indians in the second qualifier match, has entered the club of batsmen who have scored 600 runs this season. He is the sixth batsman to score 600 runs in this season and also has the highest run scorer for Punjab.

Kohli can leave Surya behind

The IPL 2025 Orange Cap will remain in the name of Sai Sudarshan and it will be difficult for Virat Kohli to leave him behind. Sai has 759 runs in 15 matches and Virat Kohli has scored 614 runs in 14 matches. Kohli has only one match left in the form of the final. If Kohli scores 104 runs in this match, he can overtake Suryakumar and come to the second position. SKY has scored 717 runs in 16 matches.

There is a possibility that Kohli will score 104 runs in the final, but as far as leaving Sai behind is concerned, for this Kohli will have to play an innings of 146 runs against Punjab Kings, which does not look easy and its possibility also seems less. So, Sai's position seems safe, but Kohli may leave Suryakumar behind.

Also Read: Most 50+ scores as a captain in IPL playoffs

IPL 2025 Orange Cap Winners List

In a crucial stage like IPL playoffs, captains are expected to not only lead their team but also deliver crucial performances. The ability to score big when the team need you the most sets certain leaders apart.

We bring you the most 50+ scoresas a captain in IPL playoffs. See how Shreyas Iyer is leading this elite group with being the exceptional captain that he is.

1. Shreyas Iyer (3 times) | DC, KKR, PBKS

Shreyas Iyer has swiftly risen as a captain who performs under pressure in IPL playoffs. He holds an exceptional record of being the only captain to lead 3 different franchises to the final (Delhi Capitals in 2020, Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024, and Punjab Kings in 2025).

He has also delivered 50+ scores thrice for his team in IPL playoffs. Here's a breakdown of that:

• 65* vs MI (Final, IPL 2020): An unbeaten 65* off 50 balls in the vital match while captaining DC, which came off when the team's top-order collapsed early. Despite their defeat in that match, Iyer's knock helped them reach a hopeful total.
• 58* vs SRH (Qualifier 1, IPL 2024): A captain's knock of 58* runs (from 24 balls) that set the tone for KKR's successful victory in the Q1 and led them into the finals.
• 87* vs MI (Qualifier 2, IPL 2025): From handling Bumrah's brilliant yorkers and turning them into boundaries, to keeping the asking rate down with towering sixes, this man has done it all in this match under pressure! Iyer's 87* off 41 balls (featuring five 4s and eight 6s) took PBKS to the final after 11 long years.

Read Also: 5 batters with the most runs in IPL playoffs history

A 1⃣1⃣ year wait ends... 🥹#PBKS are in the #TATAIPL 2025 Final and who better than Captain Shreyas Iyer to take them through ❤

Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/vIzPVlDqoC#PBKSvMI | #Qualifier2 | #TheLastMile | @PunjabKingsIPL pic.twitter.com/vILymKxqXp

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) June 1, 2025

2. Rohit Sharma (2 times) | MI

The five-time IPL winning captain, Rohit Sharma, holds a place with his 2 times delivering 50+ scores as a captain in IPL playoffs, playing for Mumbai Indians.

He scored both of them in Finals, contributing to MI's title-winning years. Here's a breakdown of that:

• 50 vs CSK (Final, IPL 2015): Helped MI set a strong total with his 50 runs off just 26 balls, showcasing his leadership in the team's title-winning efforts for the 2nd time in IPL.
• 68 vs DC (Final, IPL 2020): Played a captain's knock of 68 runs (from 51 balls) to control the chase and secure their 5th IPL title.

3. MS Dhoni (2 times) | CSK

One of the most successful captains in IPL history, MS Dhoni has played a significant role with the bat along with wicket-keeping and strategising overall. He scored 50+ knocks 2 times as a captain in IPL playoffs for Chennai Super Kings.

He scored both of them against MI, in different IPL seasons. Here's a breakdown of that:

• 51* vs MI (Eliminator, IPL 2012): Dhoni's explosive knock of 51* runs from just 20 balls helped CSK post a competitive total which eventually converted to a victory.
• 63* vs MI (Final, IPL 2013): In a hard-fought final against MI, his unbeaten 63 off 45 balls kept the hopes alive for CSK, but fell short of 23 runs in the end.

Read Also: Most P.O.T.M Awards in IPL

4. David Warner (2 times) | SRH

David Warner was a dominant force at the top of the order for Sunrisers Hyderabad and an equally good captain. He delivered many impactful performances throughout, along with 50+ scores 2 times in playoffs.

He scored both of them in IPL 2016, the season when SRH became champions. Here's a breakdown of that:

• 93* vs GL (Qualifier 2, IPL 2016): A sensational match-winning knock of 93* runs off 58 balls when the team needed it the most. He single-handedly chased down and took the match out of a poor situation, securing the win.
• 69 vs RCB (Final, IPL 2016): A classy knock in the final of the same season, where his explosive 69 runs (off 38 balls) helped SRH set 208 runs on board. They successfully defended and lifted their maiden IPL title by winning that match.

While team victories are the ultimate goal in IPL, the 'Player of the Match' (P.O.T.M) award is the direct recognition of a player's game-changing performance.

Winning P.O.T.M a couple of times shows how a player has outshined the rest and truly dominated the game. We will now explore the players with most P.O.T.M awards in IPL.

Keep an eye out, as Rohit Sharma is remarkably close to reaching the top.

1. AB de Villiers (25 P.O.T.M Awards)

The "Mr. 360" of cricket, AB de Villiers, holds the most P.O.T.M awards in IPL history with 25 awards throughout his career with DC and primarily Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

Whether it was fast paced fifties or scorching hundreds, his impact was undeniable. His IPL career spanned from 2008-2021, and yet no one could match his numbers in terms of Player of the match awards.

Read Also: Most sixes hit by any batter in IPL history

2. Chris Gayle (22 P.O.T.M Awards)

Whether it's the list of most sixes in IPL or highest individual scores, this West Indies legend always finds his spot in the top for all of them. Chris Gayle has the second-most P.O.T.M awards in IPL with 22 awards in total.

He played for franchises like KKR, PBKS, and RCB, and won multiple awards at his prime years like 2011 (smashed 2 centuries), 2012 (claimed the Orange Cap) and of course, 2013, where he scored the monumental 175* against PWI.

3. Rohit Sharma (21 P.O.T.M Awards)

Rohit Sharma is the Indian player with most P.O.T.M awards in IPL and the third-highest in this list. He received 21 awards and is just an award away to equal Gayle's number. 

Sharma received 2 P.O.T.M awards in IPL 2025; one for his 75* (45 balls) against CSK in league stage, and the other for his 81 runs off 50 balls against GT in IPL Eliminator.

As Mumbai Indians are set to play the Qualifier 2 this season, there's high chances of Rohit bagging another one (or maybe 2).

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

4. Virat Kohli (19 P.O.T.M Awards)

One of the most consistent run-scorer and match-winner for RCB, Virat Kohli stands fourth with an impressive 19 P.O.T.M awards in IPL. He is like the heart of the team and doesn't need awards to measure his greatness.

Kohli has won a P.O.T.M award in IPL 2025 for his unbeaten 73 runs against Punjab Kings. He has scored 8 half-centuries so far this season and there might be another loading as RCB is set to play the Final.

Kohli received multiple P.O.T.M awards during the 2016 season where he scored the record-breaking 973 runs.

Read Also: IPL 2025: RCB batters create this unique history before the playoffs

5. David Warner (18 P.O.T.M Awards)

The Australian legend, David Warner, had an incredible journey in IPL. He was the key player of every franchise that he represented, such as Delhi Capitals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. He won 18 P.O.T.M awards in IPL.

He has also been a three-times orange cap winner (2015, 2017, 2019), which tells a lot about his career peak in IPL and the shower of P.O.T.M awards in those years.

6. MS Dhoni (18 P.O.T.M Awards)

The five-time IPL winning captain, MS Dhoni, equals the number of P.O.T.M awards as Warner with 18 awards in IPL. His unparallel impact, captaincy, and match finishing abilities has earned him this high count of awards.

In IPL 2025, Dhoni won the P.O.T.M award by delivering a match-winning knock of 26* runs off just 11 balls against LSG, which also made him the oldest player to win a P.O.T.M award in IPL history, at the age of 43 years and 280 days.