IPL 2025: Spencer Johnson Takes Moeen's Place as Kolkata Opts to Bowl Against Lucknow
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Synopsis
On April 8, KKR won the toss and chose to bowl first against LSG in IPL 2025's Match 21 at Eden Gardens. KKR substituted Moeen Ali for Spencer Johnson, while LSG kept their lineup intact. Both captains expressed their outlook for the match during the toss.
Key Takeaways
- KKR won the toss and will bowl first.
- Spencer Johnson replaces Moeen Ali in KKR's lineup.
- Lucknow Super Giants retained their previous team.
- Pitch conditions are considered favorable for bowling.
- Both teams are optimistic about their chances in the match.
Kolkata, April 8 (NationPress) The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have emerged victorious at the toss and chosen to bowl first against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 21 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, taking place at Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
In a notable change to their lineup, KKR has replaced Moeen Ali with Spencer Johnson, while LSG retains their previous team.
"We decided to bowl first. The pitch appears to be in great condition, and the heat isn’t intense. It shouldn’t change much as the game progresses. One boundary is relatively short, which influenced our decision to bowl first. Everyone is excited for this match. It’s essential to start anew, focus on the positives, and take it step by step. We’re aware of the match-winning capabilities of Quinny and Sunil, and we’re not concerned about them. Spencer is in for Moeen," stated KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane during the toss.
Meanwhile, Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant commented, "I wouldn’t say I’m overly pleased. We’re not dwelling on the past. We’ll focus on the positives and move ahead. As a team, we are winning, which makes me happy as a captain. Our playing XI remains unchanged."
Playing XIs:
Kolkata Knight Riders: Quinton de Kock(w), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Venkatesh Iyer, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakaravarthy.
Impact Substitutes: Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Manish Pandey, Anukul Roy, Rovman Powell, Luvnith Sisodia.
Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Singh Rathi.
Impact Substitutes: Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Shahbaz Ahamad, Matthew Breetzke, Himmat Singh.
