INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2025
Lucknow, April 4: A resilient half-century from Suryakumar Yadav and an inspired five-wicket haul by Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya were not enough to prevent Lucknow Super Giants from securing a thrilling 12-run victory in their Indian Premier League encounter on Friday.
Batting first at the Ekana Stadium, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) put up an imposing total of 203/8 in their 20 overs, with Mitchell Marsh (60 off 31 balls) and Aiden Markram (53 off 38 balls) leading the charge.
The opening duo provided a solid platform, guiding LSG to 69/0 in the powerplay before Mumbai Indians (MI) fought back through Pandya’s brilliant bowling display.
Pandya’s Five-Wicket Haul Restricts LSG
MI’s captain was the standout performer with the ball, returning figures of 5/36—his first-ever five-for in T20 cricket.
He made crucial breakthroughs, dismissing Markram, Nicholas Pooran (12), Rishabh Pant (2), David Miller (27), and Akash Deep (0) to halt LSG’s progress in the middle overs. Despite Pandya’s efforts, contributions from Ayush Badoni (30) and Miller ensured that LSG crossed the 200-run mark.
MI’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs early on, with Marsh attacking the bowlers with ease, smashing nine boundaries and two sixes in his blistering knock. His aggressive approach allowed Markram to play a steady anchoring role. However, once Marsh departed in the seventh over—caught and bowled by left-arm spinner Vignesh Puthur—the momentum shifted slightly. LSG lost wickets at regular intervals, but their total still posed a stiff challenge for the five-time IPL champions.
Suryakumar’s Fighting Knock in Vain
Chasing 204 for victory, Mumbai Indians got off to a steady start, with young opener Naman Dhir playing a fluent innings of 46 runs.
However, LSG’s bowlers struck at crucial junctures to keep MI in check. Suryakumar Yadav played a sensational knock, scoring 67 off 43 balls with nine boundaries and a six, but he lacked substantial support from the other end.
Tilak Varma (25) and Hardik Pandya (28* off 19) tried to accelerate the innings, but Lucknow’s disciplined bowling attack kept MI’s run rate in check.
Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, and Digvesh Rathi chipped in with a wicket each, ensuring that MI fell short by 12 runs despite their best efforts in the final overs.
Rohit Sharma Misses Out Due to Injury
Former MI captain Rohit Sharma was absent from the playing XI after sustaining a knee injury during a net session. His experience and presence at the top of the order could have provided MI with the stability they needed in a high-pressure chase.
With this victory, Lucknow Super Giants boosted their position in the IPL points table, while Mumbai Indians will need to regroup quickly and address their inconsistencies as the tournament progresses. (Agencies)