As the IPL 2025 season approaches the playoffs, every game becomes do-or-die. Match 64 between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is a biggie. Both teams have match-winners who are capable of winning the game single-handedly. But this game will not be only about teams — it will be about individual player battles. Let's have a look at the top 4 individual clashes that can seal the fate of this encounter. Top 4 Key Player Battles to Watch in GT vs LSG Sno Players 1 Shardul Thakur vs Shubman Gill 2 Avesh Khan vs Sai Sudharsan 3 Nicholas Pooran vs Rashid Khan 4 Ravi Bishnoi vs Jos Buttler Shardul Thakur vs Shubman Gill Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2019 5 8 1 4 0 0 62.5 5.0 2020 0 2 1 2 0 0 0.0 0.0 2021 7 8 0 3 0 0 87.5 - 2022 18 10 0 2 3 0 180.0 - 2023 6 3 0 0 1 0 200.0 - 2024 8 7 0 3 1 0 114.3 - 2025 7 7 0 3 1 0 100.0 - Total 51 45 2 17 6 0 113.3 25.5 Shardul Thakur and Shubman Gill have gone against each other numerous times in the years gone by, and the statistics paint a very intriguing picture. In all seasons taken together, Shardul has bowled a total of 45 balls to Shubman and conceded a total of 51 runs, and Gill has a strike rate of just 113.3. He has hit a mere 6 boundaries (all fours, no sixes) in all those balls, and Shardul has also gotten him out twice. Then in 2019, Shubman had scored merely 5 runs off 8 balls and got out once. And then in 2020, Shardul bowled him out for a duck in 2 balls. Gill has progressed over time such as in 2022 when he blasted 18 runs off 10 balls, and in 2023 and 2024 played at fair strike rates without getting dismissed. But even in 2025, he has scored only 7 runs off 7 balls with 3 dot balls. Shardul's intelligent variations and capability to bowl slower ones at the appropriate moment have frequently caused trouble for Gill. This duel will be extremely critical as if Gill finds his momentum, GT typically ends up scoring or chasing a large total. Also Read | Watch: Suryakumar Yadav Does Bhangra at Wankhede Avesh Khan vs Sai Sudharsan Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2024 11 6 0 1 0 1 183.3 - 2025 9 5 0 1 0 1 180.0 - Total 20 11 0 2 0 2 181.8 - Sai Sudharsan has also shown much potential for GT, particularly at the top-order batting. But he will need to be careful around Avesh Khan, who has bowled to him a couple of times and kept him relatively subdued. In two IPL seasons, Avesh has bowled 11 balls to Sai and conceded just 20 runs. Sai remains yet to be dismissed by Avesh. Surprisingly, despite not even hitting a single four in the game, he has hit two ropes over with sixes and maintained his strike rate very high at 181.8. In 2024, Sai scored 11 off 6 balls, and in 2025, 9 from 5 balls without losing his wicket. Though the sample is small, Avesh has been well within line and pace. He's bowled 2 dot balls in 11 deliveries, and has made it difficult for Sai to find gaps readily. If Avesh gets an early wicket, LSG can dominate in the powerplay. Nicholas Pooran vs Rashid Khan Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2019 0 2 0 2 0 0 0.0 - 2020 7 13 1 6 0 0 53.8 7.0 2021 1 1 0 0 0 0 100.0 - 2022 5 4 0 1 0 0 125.0 - 2023 1 2 0 1 0 0 50.0 - 2024 13 7 0 1 0 1 185.7 - 2025 10 6 1 3 0 1 166.7 10.0 Total 37 35 2 14 0 2 105.7 18.5 Nicholas Pooran is LSG's most feared batter, particularly during the last overs. But Rashid Khan has frequently been able to silence him all these years. They've been facing each other over seven IPL seasons, and Rashid has bowled 35 balls to Pooran. In them, Pooran has only scored 37 runs, a strike rate of 105.7 extremely low for a power-hitter like him. Even more significantly, Rashid has got Pooran out twice, making this one an one to watch closely. Pooran has not hit even one four off Rashid in all these matches. He got his runs from boundaries in the form of two sixes, both in recent seasons (2024 and 2025). Pooran struggled big time in 2020 managing only 7 runs off 13 balls and getting dismissed. In 2025, he made 10 runs off 6 balls but Rashid got his wicket again. This indicates that Rashid has largely won this war, and GT will be counting on him to keep Pooran in hand in the last overs. Also Read | Watch: Nita Ambani Offers Sanitizer to MI Players After Win Ravi Bishnoi vs Jos Buttler Year Runs Balls Outs Dots 4s 6s SR Avg 2020 1 3 0 2 0 0 33.3 - 2022 1 1 0 0 0 0 100.0 - 2023 12 11 0 3 1 0 109.1 - 2025 4 4 0 0 0 0 100.0 - Total 18 19 0 5 1 0 94.7 - Jos Buttler is a game-changer batter who can alter the fate of the game within a few overs. But amazingly, Ravi Bishnoi has performed admirably against him in the past. In four IPL seasons when they have played against each other, Bishnoi has bowled 19 balls to Buttler and given away only 18 runs. That's a strike rate of just 94.7, which is extremely low for Buttler. Better still for LSG Bishnoi has not been dismissed by Buttler even once in all these years. During their first encounter in 2020, Bishnoi restrained Buttler to only 1 run from 3 balls, with 2 dot balls. In 2023, Buttler did better too scoring 12 runs from 11 balls, with one four. But nonetheless, Bishnoi has achieved 5 dot balls in all encounters, and this feat is commendable given Buttler's aggressive batting style. This competition will prove to be vital when GT's middle-order is coming to terms. If Bishnoi can silence Buttler or even take his wicket, LSG can reduce the pace at which GT scores runs in the middle overs.