Tungabhadra Warriors vs Simhadri Vizag Lions Match Preview – Andhra Premier League 2025

Date: August 9, 2025
Time: 14:00 GMT (09:30 PM IST)
Venue: Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam

Match Overview

The Andhra Premier League 2025 is set for an exciting start as Tungabhadra Warriors face off against Simhadri Vizag Lions in what promises to be a closely contested T20 clash. This is the first-ever meeting between the two teams in the competition, and both are eager to make a strong opening statement.

Tungabhadra Warriors, who boast the experienced medium pacer Cheepurapalli Stephen, will be looking to leverage their strong bowling department. However, the team lacks depth in batting, with Gutta Rohit being the only proven performer in the middle order.

On the other hand, Simhadri Vizag Lions appear to be the more balanced side. With experienced campaigners like Ricky Bhui and Yeddala Reddy in their ranks, they have the potential to dominate in both batting and bowling. The Lions also have a strong record in the same venue, where the chasing team has historically held a significant advantage.

Team Form and Key Insights

Tungabhadra Warriors

• Batsmen to Watch: Gutta Rohit (166 runs in 6 innings, 41.50 avg in 2024)
• Bowler to Watch: Cheepurapalli Stephen (6 wickets in 6 innings, 23.83 avg)
• Concerns: Lack of firepower in the top order and minimal depth in batting. The team is overly reliant on Gutta Rohit and Stephen for success.

Simhadri Vizag Lions

• Batsmen to Watch: Roshan Kumar (184 runs in 7 innings, 30.66 avg), Ricky Bhui (experienced wicketkeeper-batter)
• Bowler to Watch: Yeddala Reddy (9 wickets in 5 innings, 15.11 avg, 8.86 econ)
• Strengths: Balanced squad with experienced players in both departments. The Lions have a good chance of capitalizing on a potential slow start from the Warriors.

Venue and Toss Insights

The match will be played at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACAVDCA Cricket Stadium, a venue known for assisting bowlers in the first innings. In the 2024 season, 12 out of 19 matches saw the chasing team win, suggesting that the toss winner might prefer fielding first.

With partly cloudy weather and a temperature of around 32°C, the pitch is expected to offer some assistance to the bowlers, especially in the initial overs.

Match Prediction and Odds

Winning Chances:

• Tungabhadra Warriors: 41%
• Simhadri Vizag Lions: 59%

Best Bet:

• Simhadri Vizag Lions to win the match
• Simhadri Vizag Lions to win the toss and choose to field first

Final Verdict

While both teams are new to the competition, Simhadri Vizag Lions appear to be the more prepared and balanced side. Their strong batting lineup, led by Roshan Kumar and Ricky Bhui, and their experienced bowling attack, spearheaded by Yeddala Reddy, make them favorites.

Tungabhadra Warriors, despite having a solid bowler in Stephen, lack the batting depth to compete at a high level. If their top order struggles, the pressure will shift quickly onto their shoulders.

This should be an enthralling match, and with the pitch favoring bowlers, it's likely to be a low-scoring contest. But with more experience and a better-rounded squad, the Simhadri Vizag Lions are the team to beat.

Prediction:
Simhadri Vizag Lions to win by 5-6 wickets
Toss Winner: Simhadri Vizag Lions (to field first)
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