Shivamogga Lions is ready to take on Hubli Tigers for the 3rd game of the ongoing Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 2025. During the auction, Hubli Tigers spent a lot to strengthen their batting depth. They now have players like Devdutt Padikkal, Abhinav Manohar, and Mohammed Taha who can launch the ball to space. Needless to say, the Shivamogga Lions are behind their opposition on pen and paper. But they have the gunpowder to fire on all cylinders; they have the X-factor in the form of Aneeshwar Gautam.
Who is Aneeshwar Gautam, and why is he considered an X-factor of the match?
If someone tries to make a list of emerging players from South India, then they have to include Aneeshwar Gautam in the list. The 22-year-old all-rounder, who is mainly known for his batting, has already made his way to the dressing room of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). His swift movement over the surface is a delicate sight to watch. The left-handed batsman has all kinds of cricketing shots in his arsenal and has developed the skills to hit the ball in any corner of the park. If he finds his form at the right time, then Hubli Tigers may have to face massive trouble.
Last year, when Hubli Tigers was up against Mangalore Dragons, Gautam displayed his best. In 2024, when Gautam was a part of Tigers, he scored an unbeaten 95 off 58 against Dragons, with the help of eight 4s and five 6s. Hubli, batting first, registered 209/3 on the scoreboard and easily won the match. The young batter shone again when the Tigers faced the Gulbarga Mystics for an intense match. Tigers fell into trouble while they were chasing a target of 159. After losing their openers early, the middle order of the team played the necessary part to take Tigers home safely. Gautam played a matching winning knock under pressure by scoring 35 off 20 with three boundaries and a couple of 6s.
Who can win Match 3 of the 2025 Maharaja Trophy T20?
Considering the batting depth and variations in the squad with star power, Hubli Tigers is definitely the favorite to win today’s match. All eyes will be on Devdutt Padikkal and Abhinav Manohar—the players who are already well established in the Indian Premier League (IPL). KC Cariappa will be there to boost up their bowling department. Cariappa, known for his mystery spin bowling abilities, is one of the most economical bowlers of the Maharaja Trophy T20. But in comparison, Hubli’s bowling depth is not like their heavily invested batting depth, which can be their weak point.
Shivamogga Lions has the opportunity to put pressure on the Tigers’ bowling part. With their raw and some unexplored talents, Shivamogga will definitely have some skin in the game. A high-scoring affair is possible today between these two teams.
Squads
Hubli Tigers Squad: Devdutt Padikkal (c), Krishnan Shrijith (w), Mohammed Taha, Abhinav Manohar, Vijay Bharadwaj, Karthikeya KP, Manvanth Kumar L, Shivkumar Rakshith, Shanthaveri Nagaraja, KC Cariappa, Ritesh Bhatkal, Sankalp Shettennavar, Nishchith Pai, Nathan D’Mello, Shreesha Achar, Samarth Nagaraj, Prakhar Chaturvedi, Yash Raj Punja.
Shivamogga Lions Squad: Nihal Ullal (w/c), Dhruv Prabhakar, Tushar Singh, Bharath Dhuri, Aneeshwar Gautam, Hardik Raj, Aniruddha Joshi, Sanjay Ashwin, Avinash D, Anand Doddamani, Vidhwath Kaverappa, MB Darshan, Vasuki Koushik, Rohit Kumar K, Deepak Devadiga, Sahil Sharma, Maribasava Gowda, and Sireesh Balgaar.
