[India], Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), Fast bowler Mayank Yadav of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is upbeat about the team’s prospects of qualifying for the playoffs, even though they are in a difficult spot on the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 points table.

With 10 points from 11 games, LSG is presently in seventh position. They have won five of their previous 11 games and lost six. With only three league games left, every game is now like a knockout for the team captained by Rishabh Pant.

One of the up-and-coming fast-bowling stars, Mayank Yadav, acknowledged that the squad has made mistakes in a few areas, most notably in evaluating the pitch conditions.

“We have taken a bit longer than expected to evaluate the wickets and the grounds. According to ESPNcricinfo, Yadav said, “We have made mistakes there, and I’ll accept that,” at the pre-game news conference against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

Still, the seamer isn’t prepared to give up just yet.

He went on to say, “But we have three matches and if we win that, there might be a chance we can make the playoffs,” demonstrating his faith in LSG’s capacity to rally in the second half.

In their remaining games, LSG will play Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Gujarat Titans (GT), and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. It will be a difficult but manageable run.

With playoff positions still up for grabs and the IPL 2025 league table crowded, LSG will be looking to play their best cricket when it counts most.

Due to a top-order breakdown, the Lucknow Super Giants lost to Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 37 runs in their most recent game, despite an 81-run partnership between Abdul Samad and Badoni.

With this victory, PBKS now has 15 points, seven wins, three defeats, and one no-result, placing them in second place. With five victories and six defeats, LSG has 10 points and is in seventh place. After winning the toss, LSG chose to bat first.

PBKS reached 236/5 in their 20 overs thanks to a brief appearance by Josh Inglis of 30 in 14 balls (one four and four sixes), a third-wicket partnership of 78 runs between Prabhsimran and captain Shreyas Iyer (45 in 25 balls, with five fours and two sixes), and a fifth-wicket partnership of 54 runs between Prabhsimran and Shashank Singh (33* in 15 balls, with four boundaries and a six).

Digvesh Rathi (2/46) and Akash Singh (2/30) were LSG’s best wicket-takers.

LSG fell to 73/5 during the run-chase, but they were limited to 199/7 in 20 overs thanks to an 81-run partnership between Ayush Badoni (74 in 40 balls, with five fours and five sixes) and Abdul Samad (45 in 24 balls, with two fours and four sixes).

In a spectacular four-over session, Arshdeep Singh claimed three wickets while conceding 16 runs. In his four overs, Azmatullah Omarzai took 2/33. Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen both claimed one wicket.