Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) posted their second-highest total in IPL history and weathered a blistering start by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), who racked up 90 runs in the powerplay. However, LSG turned the tide with a dramatic collapse, taking 5 wickets for just 23 runs to seal a memorable win at Eden Gardens.
Mitchell Marsh notched up his fourth half-century of IPL 2025, while Nicholas Pooran blazed his way to a stunning 87 off 36 deliveries, powering LSG to a daunting 238. KKR’s top order responded strongly, led by Ajinkya Rahane’s 61 off 35 balls, as he built solid stands with Venkatesh Iyer and Sunil Narine. Yet, the hosts fell short in the end.
Despite a high-scoring affair where most bowlers came under fire, LSG relied on just five bowlers. Shardul Thakur and Akash Deep were expensive—conceding over 50 runs each and bowling several wides—but their crucial breakthroughs proved decisive in halting KKR’s charge.
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Middle-Order Meltdown Derails KKR’s Chase
Kolkata Knight Riders appeared in control at 162 for 2 in the 13th over, needing just 77 runs off 43 balls. However, their middle order faltered under pressure, repeatedly taking risky shots and perishing to well-placed fielders. Ramandeep Singh lofted a slot delivery from Ravi Bishnoi straight to Aiden Markram at long-off, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s attempted reverse sweep off Avesh Khan ended in the gloves of the wicketkeeper. Set batter Venkatesh Iyer also fell, miscuing a full delivery from Akash Deep to long-on.
Even though Andre Russell couldn’t make an impact—falling to a full toss from Shardul Thakur—Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 38 off just 15 balls gave KKR hope. But LSG’s clever use of spin at the death and constant bowling changes helped them hold their nerve and clinch a thrilling four-run victory.
KKR’s Blistering Powerplay Sets the Tone, but Momentum Fizzles Out
Kolkata Knight Riders got off to a flying start in their chase, capitalizing on Akash Deep’s erratic opening over. The pacer struggled with his line, sending down three wides down leg—one racing to the boundary, and another saved only by a full-stretch dive from Rishabh Pant. Sunil Narine and Quinton de Kock made the most of two slot balls, dispatching both for sixes, while Narine also edged a couple of slower deliveries off Shardul Thakur as KKR raced to 31 without loss in just two overs.
Akash Deep found redemption with a peach that beat de Kock’s defence, though an optimistic review by Pant proved unsuccessful. Undeterred, Akash struck the very next ball, trapping de Kock lbw with a delivery that clipped the line of the stumps. Meanwhile, Thakur persisted with a wide-line tactic, conceding three wides—though Narine punished the rest, smashing a six and a four over cover to keep KKR’s tempo sky-high.
Rahane had an early stroke of luck with an edge that flew behind point, but soon followed it up with a stylish flick to collect his first two boundaries. With Akash Deep continuing into his third over, Rahane showcased his class, timing a square drive off a length ball reminiscent of his Test match prowess. He then took the attack to Avesh Khan, launching a couple of flicked sixes over the leg side, propelling KKR to 90 for 1 by the end of the powerplay.
Right after the powerplay, in-form legspinner Digvesh Rathi was introduced and struck immediately—tossing one wide that spun further away, tempting Narine into a mistimed big shot that found the fielder at long-off.
Venkatesh Iyer and Rahane kept the scoreboard ticking with a brisk 71-run stand for the third wicket off 40 balls. Rathi nearly had another when Venkatesh edged a back-foot square drive, but the ball deflected sharply off Pant’s gloves and went for four.
Rahane brought up his half-century in style with an inventive paddle, reaching the milestone in just 26 balls. Venkatesh followed with two boundaries off Rathi, prompting a return to pace. However, Thakur’s attempt to bowl wide backfired initially, resulting in five extras to begin the 13th over—though it ended on a high for LSG as Rahane chipped one to cover, triggering the collapse that followed.
Marsh-Markram Stand Sets the Tone for LSG’s Big Total
Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh laid a solid foundation for Lucknow Super Giants with a commanding 99-run stand—the highest opening partnership of the season so far. The duo amassed 59 runs in the powerplay, with a remarkable 46 coming from just three overs at one end. They targeted Spencer Johnson in particular, hammering him for three boundaries and two sixes—most of them on the leg side, taking advantage of the shorter boundary.
Varun Chakravarthy was introduced in the fifth over and immediately brought some control, conceding only five runs. He extracted sharp turn and bounce, nearly sneaking one past Markram’s attempted sweep. However, Harshit Rana couldn’t maintain that pressure, as Markram and Marsh responded with two towering sixes—Markram cutting one over deep third and Marsh launching a slower ball straight down the ground.
As the field spread, Sunil Narine came on to pull things back, but Marsh didn’t let him settle. He slog-swept a length delivery and then rocked back to pull a shorter one behind square leg. Although the three overs of spin offered a relative breather, they still cost 23 runs, and LSG stood strong at 95 for no loss at the halfway stage.
Harshit Rana returned to bowl short and wide—Markram cut him away for four—but he made a quick comeback with a well-disguised offcutter that skidded past Markram’s flick and rattled middle and off. Marsh kept the momentum going, bringing up his fifty off 36 balls with a cut shot and followed it with a six and a four off Vaibhav Arora over the leg side.
Pooran’s Onslaught Batters KKR as He Powers LSG to Commanding Total
Nicholas Pooran unleashed a brutal counterattack to propel LSG to a daunting total, starting with a pair of crisp cuts off Spencer Johnson. Once the spinners came on, he shifted gears. Varun Chakravarthy’s wide delivery was met with a majestic loft over cover for six, and in the very next over, Pooran took down Sunil Narine with a powerful slog sweep followed by a clean strike down the ground—ensuring the spinner didn’t return for a fourth over.
While Andre Russell managed to remove Mitchell Marsh with a wide slower ball that was cut to deep point, Pooran remained relentless. He reached his half-century in just 21 balls, peppering Harshit Rana with one six behind square and two more in front of it in consecutive deliveries.
Russell faced the full force of Pooran’s fury in the 18th over. Short deliveries were pulled with ease, and a missed yorker was drilled straight back down the ground. The over bled 24 runs—featuring three boundaries and two maximums—marking the costliest over of the innings.
Despite the carnage, Harshit Rana’s slower deliveries and Vaibhav Arora’s pinpoint yorkers in the final two overs managed to keep Pooran somewhat in check, limiting him to just three boundaries at the death, even as he batted through unbeaten.
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FAQs
What was Lucknow Super Giants’ total against KKR in IPL 2025?
LSG posted 238 runs, their second-highest total in IPL history.
Who were the top performers for LSG with the bat?
Mitchell Marsh scored a fluent fifty, while Nicholas Pooran smashed 87 off 36 balls.
How did KKR start their chase of 239 runs?
KKR raced to 90/1 in the powerplay, with Ajinkya Rahane scoring 61 off 35 balls.
What triggered KKR’s batting collapse during the chase?
KKR lost 5 wickets for 23 runs after being 162/2, with LSG’s bowlers inducing key dismissals.
How did LSG bowlers seal the win despite a tough start?
Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, and Ravi Bishnoi took crucial wickets as LSG won by 4 runs.
