IPL 2025: Top-ranked teams Gujarat Titans and LSG are enjoying strong seasons, but their fragile middle-order remains a major concern?
IPL 2025 has thrown up unexpected table-toppers, with Delhi Capitals leading the chart, followed by Gujarat Titans (GT) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). On the other hand, two five-time champions, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, are at the bottom of the points table. All credit to table toppers, but a comparison of the success of GT and LSG shows that both these teams have a lot to thank their top-order batters, while the middle-order batters have flattered to deceive. If not for their top-order batters, these two teams would have struggled to be in this position in the points tally.
Let’s take a look at how these two teams fare in terms of their top and middle-order batters:
LSG’s top-order might
LSG’s top three batters – Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran – have been in great form. They have carried their inconsistent middle-order (No 4 to 7) on their shoulders. While the top-order batters average 46.50 runs per wicket with 10 fifties in 6 games so far, their middle-order batters average 17.87 with 0 fifties so far. Their top-three batters have scored combined 125 runs in all but one game, and won four of those five games. The only loss came to Delhi Capitals by 1 wicket when Ashutosh Sharma played a blinder to deny LSG. Their middle-order has combined for over 50 runs three times out of six games, and won only two of those matches.
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Here’s a look at the stark difference between LSG’s top-order and middle-order performances.
| Middle | Order | Top | Order | ||||
| Against | Runs | Wkts | 50s | Runs | Wkts | 50s | Result |
| DC | 31 | 4 | 0 | 162 | 3 | 2 | Lost |
| SRH | 56 | 2 | 0 | 123 | 3 | 2 | Won |
| PBKS | 89 | 4 | 0 | 72 | 3 | 0 | Lost |
| MI | 63 | 4 | 0 | 125 | 3 | 2 | Won |
| KKR | 10 | 1 | 0 | 215 | 3 | 2 | Won |
| GT | 37 | 1 | 0 | 140 | 3 | 2 | Won |
| Total | 286 | 16 | 0 | 837 | 18 | 10 |
What could derail LSG’s progress?
Although LSG have done well so far, thanks to their top-order brilliance, their inconsistent middle-order can be a burden in the business end of the tournament. The over-reliance on the top-order can prove to be a bane in the knockout stages. Also, thanks to the top-order batters, the middle-order has not received many balls to play. Therefore, LSG need to find a way to sort out this problem, and ensure middle-order batters score runs as well.
The way forward
LSG did try promoting captain Rishabh Pant as an opener to get the star batter back in form. It was a good move. Pant managed 18-ball 21 against GT, and is expected to strike form quickly. Other batters such as Ayush Badoni have shown glimpses of brilliance so far, but need to be more consistent. David Miller hasn’t been among the runs, and it has not helped LSG’s cause. LSG could try breaking the middle-order woes by giving players more opportunity to bat higher up the order, while reducing the overburden on top-order batters.
Read More: IPL 2025, LSG vs GT, Highlights: Bishnoi’s speed-breaker scalps, Pooran’s 61 headline LSG win
GT’s top-order in form
The same is the case with the Gujarat Titans. Their top-order comprising Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler have done the bulk of the scoring, while the middle-order batters have not been among the runs. While their top-order batters average 47.18 with 8 fifties in 6 games so far, their middle-order batters average 24.54 with 0 fifties so far. Their top-three batters combined have managed over 120 runs in 5 games out of 6, and lost just two of those matches. On the other hand, the middle-order batters have made a combined three fifties in 6 six games. In GT’s case as well, the over-reliance on top-order batters has been well-documented.
Here’s a look at the stark difference between GT’s top-order and middle-order performances.
| Middle | Order | Top | Order | ||||
| Against | Runs | Wkts | 50s | Runs | Wkts | 50s | Result |
| PBKS | 58 | 2 | 0 | 161 | 3 | 2 | Lost |
| MI | 33 | 4 | 0 | 140 | 3 | 1 | Won |
| RCB | 30 | 0 | 0 | 136 | 2 | 1 | Won |
| SRH | 84 | 1 | 0 | 66 | 2 | 1 | Won |
| RR | 79 | 3 | 0 | 120 | 3 | 1 | Won |
| LSG | 35 | 3 | 0 | 132 | 3 | 2 | Lost |
| Total | 319 | 13 | 0 | 755 | 16 | 8 |
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What could derail GT’s progress?
As seen in the game against LSG, Gujarat’s innings lost momentum after the openers posted a 120-run stand in 12 overs, and ended up with just 180. The inconsistent middle-order could not continue the run-scoring spree set by Gill and Sudharsan, and had to pay dearly for it. In the business end of the tournament, the middle-order’s woes could come to haunt GT and might deny them the chance to qualify for the play-offs.
What’s the way forward
There has been individual brilliance from middle-order batters such as Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, and M Shahrukh Khan, but it has been few and far between. The likes of Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan are good hitters of the ball, but have come to bat too low down the order to make impactful runs. Hence, GT would do well to tinker with the batting line-up where more chances are given to the middle-order batters to bat higher up to get more overs to play and build an innings and even finish off a chase. Left-handed batter Tewatia, who is a good hitter of the ball, could be promoted higher up the order to maintain the left-right combination. Unless these middle-order batters are tested in tough conditions, Gujarat would struggle to get the best out of them.
Read More: IPL 2025, GT vs RR, Highlights: Sai Sudharsan shines as GT go top of the table; RR fail to maintain momentum.
