Here is why Mohit Sharma Isn’t Playing Today’s IPL 2025 Match 40 Against LSG

The 40th match of IPL 2025 features the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) facing off against the Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. Winning an important toss, Delhi Capitals’ captain Axar Patel has elected to bowl first. He cited dew as an important factor behind his decision. There can be assistance for the batters in the second innings because of it. He also talked about the wicket being red soil and that they can restrict LSG if they bowl well. Talking about the Impact Player rule, Axar said they decide that based on the match situation. However, the big news ahead of the match is the absence of Mohit Sharma from the DC playing XI. Dushmantha Chameera comes in his place.

Delhi Capitals Opt to Bowl First in Lucknow

Axar Patel, leading the Delhi Capitals, said that there was dew in the last game at the venue and that can help the batters. That’s the reason behind opting to bowl first. He also talked about the wicket being red soil and that they can restrict LSG if they bowl well. Talking about the Impact Player rule, Axar said they decide that based on the match situation. He said that the team isn’t thinking too much and focus on what threy did right and what can be improved. “Red soil wicket and there was dew in the last game as well. If we bowl well, we can restrict them. We focused on what we did right and areas where we can improve. We aren’t thinking too much. We’ve been part of a couple of close matches. Impact Player – we decide based on the match situation. Unfortunately a couple of our players are injured and they won’t be able to field. One change for us. Mohit Sharma is out, Dushmantha Chameera is playing.” Axar said.

DC are playing with key bowlers like Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Vipraj Nigam and Axar Patel.

Pant wanted to bowl first

Rishabh Pant, captaining the LSG side, said that he would have opted to bowl first as well. He said that the wicket stops a bit in the first innings. It gets better and better as the game progresses. He said that his hand is fine. Talking about the approach to batting, Pant said that they’ll focus on not losing too many wickets, as the wickets gets easier to bat on gradually. “ The way this wicket is playing, it stops a bit in the first innings and as the game goes on, it gets better and better. Hand is okay. (Things to keep in mind while batting first) It’s going to be on the slower side, but gradually it gets better and better as you keep on batting. So not losing too many wickets, that’s the only thing to keep in mind and just playing according to the situation. As a team, we don’t think about what’s happening around us. We are just focusing on where we can improve. We are playing with the same team.” Pant said.

Why Mohit Sharma is not playing today

Experienced fast bowler Mohit Sharma has been dropped by the Delhi Capitals. The 36-year-old has not had a successful season so far. He has played 7 games for DC, but has been able to pick up only 2 wickets. Moreover, he has an economy of 10, which has not been impressive.

The DC management has brought in Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera as a replacement for Sharma. Chameera will make his debut for the Delhi Capitals. He has previously played for Lucknow Super Giants and Kolkata Knight Riders.

He made his IPL debut in 2022 for LSG and played 12 games, picking 9 wickets. Last year, he was part of the trophy-winning KKR squad. However, he featured in only 1 game.

Playing XIs

Luckow Super Giants Playing XI:

Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Abdul Samad, David Miller, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav

Delhi Capitals XI:

Abishek Porel, Karun Nair, KL Rahul(w), Axar Patel(c), Tristan Stubbs, Ashutosh Sharma, Vipraj Nigam, Mitchell Starc, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, Mukesh Kumar

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