IPL 2025 Faceoff – Who Had the Better Top 3 Between Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans

In the Indian Premier League, a team’s success often depends on how well its top three batsmen perform. Over the years, many IPL-winning teams have had their top three players leading the way and making the difference in big matches. For example, in IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders won their third title mainly because of their strong top order. Phil Salt, Sunil Narine, and Venkatesh Iyer did most of the hard work, giving the team great starts and helping them reach the trophy.

Similarly, IPL 2025 is seeing some exciting competition between two teams with strong top-three batting line-ups. The Gujarat Titans have a powerful top order with captain Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and the wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler. This trio has been consistent and reliable for the team throughout the tournament. On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants also have an impressive top three.

Absolute carnage 🔥pic.twitter.com/WIkyYdt9aQ

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 22, 2025

They open with Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, who have been excellent in setting up innings. At number three, Nicholas Pooran has played some fantastic innings and proved to be a key player for the team. With both teams having such strong top orders, fans are eager to see which team’s top three will prove to be the best and lead their side to victory in IPL 2025.

How Much Did Both Teams Spend in the Auction for Their Top Three Players?

In the IPL Auction 2025, Lucknow Super Giants and Gujarat Titans secured a strong start by building balanced top-three batting lineups, laying a solid foundation for their teams’ success with a perfect mix of talent and stability at the top order.

Lucknow Super Giants

Besides buying their captain Rishabh Pant for a whooping sum of INR 27 Crores, the Lucknow Super Giants formed an impressive top three at the auction by carefully investing in key overseas players. One of their biggest moves was retaining Nicholas Pooran for INR 21 Crores. Pooran has been a vital part of their batting lineup, providing stability and power at number three. Retaining him showed the team’s faith in his ability to perform under pressure. In addition to Pooran, Lucknow picked two more overseas players for their top order: Aiden Markram for INR 2 Crores and Mitchell Marsh for INR 3.40 Crores.

Both are talented all-rounders, which adds great balance to the team. Markram and Marsh open the batting, giving the team strong starts, while also contributing with the ball when needed. This mix of batsmen and all-rounders in the top three gives Lucknow flexibility in their game plans. The auction strategy of Lucknow Super Giants focused on building a top three that combined experience, power, and versatility. By investing wisely in these three overseas players, they have formed a solid foundation for their batting lineup.

Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans has been a team that has relied on building a strong and consistent top order to succeed. In the IPL 2025 auction, they established an amazing top three by retaining their key players Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Shubman Gill, retained for INR 16.50 crore, was also named the captain, adding leadership stability to the side. Sai Sudharsan was retained for INR 8.50 crore, providing the team with much-needed consistency in the middle order. To complete their strong batting lineup, Gujarat Titans smartly picked Jos Buttler for INR 15.75 crore after he was released by the Rajasthan Royals.

The team saw this as a great opportunity to strengthen their number three spot with a solid and experienced player. Buttler was given the chance to bat down the order, allowing him to play his natural game and provide a steadying influence during crucial moments. This combination of three players, Gill, Sudharsan, and Buttler, has given Gujarat Titans a dependable and flexible top order.

Performance of the Top Three Players of Both Teams in the IPL

The top three players of LSG and GT have been the backbone of their teams this season. Their consistent and impactful performances have played a crucial role in driving their teams forward and maintaining strong positions in the tournament.

Lucknow Super Giants

Despite the team being out of the playoffs in IPL 2025, the top three batsmen of the Lucknow Super Giants — Mitchell Marsh, Nicholas Pooran, and Aiden Markram — crossing the 450-run mark is an impressive feat, showcasing their batting prowess. Together, they’ve been a powerhouse, driving LSG’s aggressive batting line-up with remarkable consistency and flair. Mitchell Marsh led the charge with 560 runs in 12 matches, all as an opener. Facing 346 balls, he smashed a century (117) and five fifties, averaging 46.66 with a strike rate of 161.84.

His aggressive approach yielded 52 fours and 32 sixes, though he had two ducks. Marsh’s ability to dominate pace bowling, especially in the powerplay, was evident in his 81 off 36 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders, where he and Markram put on 99 runs for the opening stand, the season’s highest. His 32 sixes highlight his brute force, making him a key figure in LSG’s batting. Nicholas Pooran, batting at number three, was a close second with 511 runs in 13 matches, including two not-outs, and his 87* was the highest, and with five fifties, he averaged 46.45 at a blistering strike rate of 198.83, the second-best in the tournament.

LSG ब्रिगेड के दिलों की धड़कन 💙 pic.twitter.com/39ZZr2OQ0K

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 22, 2025

Facing just 257 balls, Pooran hammered 44 fours and 40 sixes, excelling against both pace and spin. His 70 off 26 balls, with six fours and six sixes, against Sunrisers Hyderabad was a game-changer, helping LSG chase 191 comfortably. Pooran’s ability to dominate spinners, with a strike rate of 184.4 since 2023, cements his reputation as a T20 superstar. Aiden Markram, also playing all 13 matches, scored 445 runs at an average of 34.23 and a strike rate of 148.82 and his highest score of 66, alongside five fifties, showed his consistency. Facing 299 balls, he struck 38 fours and 22 sixes and Markram’s technical soundness shone in his 47 against KKR, complementing Marsh’s aggression.

Gujarat Titans

Even though the Gujarat Titans didn’t make the IPL 2025 playoffs, their top three batsmen, Shubman Gill, B Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler, each racking up over 550 runs, was something special. They were the heart of GT’s batting, keeping the team in the fight despite a rough season. Shubman Gill, the skipper, led by example, piling up 636 runs in 13 matches. He did not get out twice, faced 406 balls, and had a best of 93*. With an average of 57.81 and a strike rate of 156.65, he was rock-solid, smashing 61 fours and 23 sixes without a single duck.

His classy 77 off 44 balls against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he and Sudharsan put on a massive 142-run opening stand, was a season highlight. Gill’s mix of elegance and aggression made him GT’s go-to guy. B Sai Sudharsan was just as reliable, scoring 638 runs in 13 matches with one not-out. His unbeaten 108* stole the show, and with an average of 53.16 and a strike rate of 155.99, he was a force. Facing 409 balls, he cracked 72 fours — the most of the trio and 20 sixes, with five fifties and no ducks and his 84 off 49 balls against Chennai Super Kings, including 9 fours, showed he could hold things together when the pressure was on.

Sudharsan’s smooth technique and adaptability kept GT’s middle overs ticking. Jos Buttler brought the fireworks, scoring 533 runs in 13 matches across 12 innings, with four not-outs. Averaging a whopping 66.62 and striking at 165.01, his top score of 97* came off 323 balls. With five fifties, one duck, 52 fours, and 24 sixes, Buttler was a game-changer and his blistering 88 off 43 balls against Mumbai Indians, with 7 fours and 5 sixes, made chasing 183 look easy and his ability to take spinners apart was pure magic.