Despite missing Mitchell Marsh, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) outperformed Gujarat Titans (GT) in a top-order showdown to climb to third place in the IPL 2025 points table.
GT got off to a strong start with a 120-run opening partnership between Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan, but their innings unraveled as they scored just 60 runs and lost six wickets in the final eight overs. LSG’s spin duo, Ravi Bishnoi and Digvesh Rathi, who combined for figures of 8-0-66-3, turned the tide on the black-soil surface at Ekana Stadium.
In reply, Aiden Markram and Rishabh Pant—opening in the IPL for the first time in nearly a decade—capitalised on the powerplay to give LSG early momentum. Markram’s brisk 58 off 31 was followed by a powerful 61 off 34 from Nicholas Pooran, who hammered LSG to victory with three balls to spare, ending GT’s four-match winning streak.
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Sudharsan-Gill Blaze Trail in Confident Opening Stand
Asked to bat first, Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudharsan gave Gujarat Titans a steady start, reaching 54 without loss in the powerplay. Sudharsan opened his account with a crisp boundary off Shardul Thakur and followed it up by driving Akash Deep straight down the ground for another four when the pacer overpitched.
While T20 may not be Sudharsan’s most dominant format, his calm, low-risk approach continues to yield runs at a healthy rate. Gill, in contrast, opted for a more aggressive style—dancing down the track and creating space to free his arms. When LSG turned to Aiden Markram to sneak in a quiet over, the duo dismantled that plan by taking 15 runs off the part-time spinner.
Sudharsan survived a scare on 46 when Abdul Samad put down a catch at cover off Digvesh Rathi, and soon after, he brought up his fourth fifty in just six IPL innings, shortly following Gill’s own milestone.
GT’s Freefall After Dominant Start
Gujarat Titans’ commanding position began to crumble with the quick dismissals of their openers. Avesh Khan broke the 120-run stand by removing Shubman Gill with a cleverly disguised cutter that was caught at long-on, and in the very next over, Ravi Bishnoi dismissed B Sai Sudharsan with a sharp wrong ’un that was pouched at cover. Bishnoi continued to trouble the batters, getting rid of Washington Sundar as well, who chopped on for just 2.
Mystery spinner Digvesh Rathi, despite suffering from dropped catches earlier, finally found reward when Shardul Thakur pulled off a fine catch at short fine leg to send back Jos Buttler for a laboured 16 off 14. Thakur then wrapped up the innings with his deceptive slower balls, dismissing Sherfane Rutherford and Rahul Tewatia in the final over.
From a seemingly unassailable 120 for 0 in the 12th over, GT’s innings lost momentum dramatically, closing at 180 for 6.
Markram’s Blitz, Pant’s Steady Hand Give LSG a Flying Start
Lucknow Super Giants flew out of the blocks, racing to 61 without loss in the powerplay, with Aiden Markram doing the bulk of the damage. The South African batter was in full flow, contributing 38 of those runs, while Rishabh Pant—promoted to open—took a more cautious approach, especially after taking a painful blow to the knee from Arshad Khan.
Pant played second fiddle early on but shifted gears in the sixth over, slog-sweeping Rashid Khan for a boundary over midwicket. However, his innings was short-lived—when he danced down the track to Prasidh Krishna in the next over, the bowler cleverly adjusted his line, forcing Pant into a sliced shot that was caught at deep third for 21 off 18 balls.
Markram, unfazed, continued his aggressive yet composed knock, blending classical strokes with inventive T20 shot-making to raise a fluent 26-ball half-century.
Pooran’s Power Show Turns the Tide for LSG
Nicholas Pooran unleashed a six-hitting masterclass that swung the chase firmly in LSG’s favour. Having already cleared the ropes twice, Pooran went after R Sai Kishore in the tenth over. The first ball—likely a carrom ball—was dispatched over midwicket, and he followed it up with two more towering sixes off the left-arm spinner’s next three deliveries, effectively forcing him out of the attack.
Pooran’s ferocious hitting brought the required rate down to a run-a-ball, easing pressure on the LSG middle order. He finished with seven sixes in the innings, taking his season tally to a staggering 31—more than double that of the next best batter in the tournament. Remarkably, he alone hit four more sixes than the entire Gujarat Titans lineup combined.
By the time Rashid Khan dismissed him in the 16th over, LSG needed just 26 off 28 balls. Ayush Badoni, coming in as the Impact Player, calmly wrapped up the chase with an unbeaten finishing touch.
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FAQs
Who were the top performers in Lucknow Super Giants’ win over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025?
Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Ravi Bishnoi, and Digvesh Rathi stood out for LSG, contributing with explosive batting and key breakthroughs.
How did Gujarat Titans collapse after a strong start?
After a 120-run opening stand between Gill and Sudharsan, GT lost six wickets for just 60 runs in the last eight overs, derailing their momentum.
How did Nicholas Pooran impact LSG’s chase against GT?
Pooran smashed 61 off 34 balls, including seven sixes—four more than GT managed as a team—bringing the asking rate down to a run-a-ball.
What was Rishabh Pant’s role in LSG’s innings?
Pant opened the batting for the first time in nearly 10 years in the IPL, scored a steady 21 off 18 balls, and helped set the tone in the powerplay.
How many sixes has Nicholas Pooran hit in IPL 2025 so far?
Pooran has hit 31 sixes this season, more than double the next highest in the tournament.
