IPL 2025: Why is Azmatullah Omarzai not in Starting XI in LSG vs PBKS Match 13?

Azmatullah Omarzai has been left out of the Punjab Kings' (PBKS) playing XI for their clash against the Lucknow Super Kings (LSG) on Tuesday, April 1, at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium.

Punjab are playing only their second match in IPL 2025. They defeated Gujarat Titans by 11 runs in a high-scoring encounter in Ahmedabad to kick-start their campaign. Meanwhile, LSG are placed at No. 3 in the points table with one win and a loss under their belt.

Toss Update

Shreyas Iyer won the toss for the Punjab Kings and opted to field first. While explaining his decision, the Mumbai batter mentioned the dew factor as well as the red-soil pitch. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant admitted that he would have bowled first had he won the toss. However, he hoped for a solid performance from his team, especially after the morale-boosting win against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game.

Azmatullah Omarzai left out

Shreyas revealed at the toss that Lockie Ferguson had been added to the side. The New Zealand pacer replaces Omarzai, who played the first game but failed to make an impact. The Afghanistan all-rounder scored a 15-ball 16 and conceded 29 runs in his two overs. Ferguson will add more experience and depth to Punjab's bowling unit. Meanwhile, Lucknow are going in with an unchanged side.

What did the captains say?

Shreyas Iyer, PBKS captain

We are going to bowl first. It's a new ground, new pitch, dew could be a factor as well and this being a red-soil pitch, we want to chase. The players have the freedom to express themselves. You have to play the situation, the important goal is to win. We try to keep things simple. We don't know how the pitch is going to play but we have to adjust quickly. Lockie comes into the team.

Rishabh Pant, LSG captain

We wanted to bowl first but there are things which are not under our control so happy to bat first. There are a lot of people who have come to support us, we are definitely going to give our best. No changes for us.

LSG vs PBKS Playing XIs

Lucknow Super Giants

Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (WK/C), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Shardul Thakur, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi.

Impact Subs: Prince Yadav, Manimaran Siddharth, Shahbaz Ahmed, Himmat Singh, Akash Maharaj Singh.

Click Here: LSG vs PBKS Match 13 - Live Score, Commentary, Stats & Updates

Punjab Kings

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Shreyas Iyer (C), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Suryansh Shedge, Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh.

Impact Subs: Praveen Dubey, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod, Harpreet Brar.