In the seventh encounter of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) won comprehensively by five wickets over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on March 27. The win was LSG’s first win of the season, with spectacular performances from their bowlers as well as their batsmen.
Match Overview
Having won the toss, LSG opted to bowl first, a move that was worth it, as they were able to limit SRH to 190 for 9 from their 20 overs. LSG subsequently chased down the target effectively, scoring 191 for 5 from just 16.1 overs.
SRH’s inning started on shaky ground with early losses. Opener Abhishek Sharma was bowled out for 6 runs, and Ishan Kishan, who had made a century in the last game, was given a golden duck, both wickets taken by Shardul Thakur in the third over. Travis Head was the SRH top scorer, posting a quick 47 in 28 balls, with seven boundaries and a six. Yet, his promising innings were stopped in his tracks by Prince Yadav, who bowled him with a full and straight ball. Middle-order efforts were provided by Heinrich Klaasen (26 off 17) and a good cameo by Aniket Verma, who contributed 36 off 13 balls, taking SRH to a fighting total. Captain Pat Cummins also chipped in with an 18 off 4 balls, maintaining a strike rate of 450.00, the second-highest in IPL history for at least 15 runs.
LSG Bowling Performance
Shardul Thakur was LSG’s hero with the ball, taking his career-best IPL figures of 4 for 34. He played a major role in breaking SRH’s top order and cutting down their run flow. Thakur also added to his 100-wicket tally in the IPL, reaching that landmark in his 97th game. The other bowlers, Prince Yadav and Avesh Khan, chipped in with important contributions, not letting SRH reach the 200-run barrier.
In pursuit of 191, LSG’s innings begin with the premature loss of Aiden Markram for 1 run. But a strong third-wicket partnership between Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran helped turn the fortunes in LSG’s favor. Marsh played a smooth 52 off 31 deliveries, while Pooran was on scintillating form, smashing 70 off a mere 26 balls. Pooran’s knock was peppered with six fours and six sixes, and he had reached his half-century in a mere 18 balls, the quickest fifty of IPL 2025 so far. Their 116-run partnership provided a good platform for the chase. Even after the fall of both Marsh and Pooran, Abdul Samad’s unbeaten 22 off 8 balls saw LSG cross the line with ease with 23 balls remaining.
Key Performances and Milestones
Nicholas Pooran: With his 70-run innings explosive, Pooran not only registered the season’s fastest fifty but also became the first batsman to score four fifties in under 20 deliveries in the history of IPL.
Shardul Thakur got his best career IPL bowling figures and reached 100 IPL wickets, highlighting his worth as a late pick-up for LSG.
Pat Cummins: He had a strike rate of 450.00 in his short innings, the second-highest in IPL history for scoring at least 15 runs.
LSG’s Powerplay Score: The team scored 77 runs during the powerplay, their second-highest powerplay score in IPL history.
Post-Match Reflections
LSG skipper Rishabh Pant’s tactical move to send Nicholas Pooran up the order to bat at number three brought rich rewards. Pant underlined the need to provide Pooran with the autonomy to play his natural game on the field, a ploy that reaped dividends. Pooran credited his success to years of work on his game and the ability to bat higher up in the order, enabling him to take advantage of good matchups and conditions.
Shardul Thakur’s season so far has been nothing short of special. Having remained unsold in the IPL auction and training for a possible stint in English county cricket, he was roped in by LSG as a cover for the injured Mohsin Khan. Thakur made the most of the chance, topping the wicket-taking chart with six scalps in two matches and taking the Player of the Match award versus SRH. He credited LSG mentor Zaheer Khan for encouraging him to stay prepared for such opportunities and advocated for more balanced pitches in the tournament to ensure fairness to bowlers amidst the prevailing batting-friendly conditions.
Conclusion
LSG’s comprehensive win against SRH was a reflection of their well-balanced team performance, with both the batsmen and bowlers chipping in big time. This victory not only helped them open their account in the IPL 2025 points table but also served as a stern warning to other teams regarding their potential. With the tournament going on, LSG will try to capitalize on this momentum, while SRH will try to correct their errors and come back stronger in their next matches.
