The IPL 2025 season brought another electrifying showdown on March 27, 2025, at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, where Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) triumphed over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 5 wickets. LSG chased down SRH’s 190/9 in just 16.1 overs, thanks to a fiery display of batting that left the home crowd stunned and gave LSG their first victory.
SRH’s innings kicked off with high expectations, given their reputation for monstrous totals at this venue. However, LSG’s bowlers had other plans. Shardul Thakur was the wrecker-in-chief, slicing through SRH’s top order with a career-best 4/34. He struck early, removing Abhishek Sharma for 6 off 8 balls and Ishan Kishan for a golden duck on consecutive deliveries in the third over, leaving SRH reeling at 15/2. Travis Head fought back with a fiery 47 off 28 balls, smashing 4 fours and 3 sixes, but his luck ran out when Prince Yadav bowled a peach to clean him up in the eighth over. Despite Head’s aggression, LSG’s fielders dropped him twice—once by Nicholas Pooran at long-on and later a tough chance by Ravi Bishnoi, costing them a few extra runs but not the game.
SRH’s middle order tried to rebuild, with Nitish Kumar Reddy scoring a steady 32 off 28 and Heinrich Klaasen adding 14 off 11 before a bizarre run-out ended his stay. Klaasen was caught short when a ball deflected off Prince Yadav’s hands onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. Aniket Verma provided a late flourish, hammering 36 off 13 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes, while captain Pat Cummins smashed 18 off just 4 balls, including three consecutive sixes off Thakur. Yet, LSG’s disciplined bowling, with Prince Yadav grabbing 2/35 and Bishnoi chipping in with a wicket, ensured SRH finished at 190/9—a total that felt underwhelming on a batting-friendly pitch.
LSG’s chase was a masterclass in aggressive T20 batting. They lost Aiden Markram early for 1, dismissed by Mohammed Shami in the second over, but that was the only hiccup. Nicholas Pooran walked in and turned the game on its head, blasting 70 off 26 balls. His knock included 6 fours and 6 sixes, and he reached his fifty in a mere 18 balls—the fastest of IPL 2025 so far. Pooran’s assault was relentless, targeting every SRH bowler, with a particular liking for Abhishek Sharma, whom he smashed for back-to-back sixes. Mitchell Marsh played the perfect foil, scoring a composed 52 off 31 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes, forming a game-changing 100-run stand with Pooran in just 52 balls.
SRH’s bowlers fought back late, with Pat Cummins quickly removing Pooran and Marsh. Pooran was trapped lbw for 70, and Marsh was caught at long-on for 52, giving SRH a glimmer of hope. Ayush Badoni (23 off 16) and Rishabh Pant (15 off 15) kept the chase on track, but both fell in the death overs—Badoni to a brilliant catch by Harshal Patel off Adam Zampa, and Pant caught at short third off Patel. However, Abdul Samad, playing against his former team, sealed the deal with an unbeaten 22 off 8 balls, including a six and a four off Harshal Patel. David Miller (5 not out) hit the winning runs, lofting a flighted ball from Ishan Kishan over cover to finish the chase at 193/5 in 16.1 overs, with 23 balls to spare.
HIGHLIGHTS | SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS
- Thakur’s Early Blows: Shardul Thakur’s double strike in the third over, dismissing Sharma and Kishan, set the tone for LSG’s dominance.
- Pooran’s 18-Ball Fifty: Nicholas Pooran’s 70 off 26, with a fifty in just 18 balls, was a brutal display of power-hitting.
- Head’s Resilience: Travis Head’s 47 off 28 kept SRH afloat despite two dropped catches by LSG fielders.
- Cummins’ Late Fireworks: Pat Cummins’ three sixes in a row off Thakur gave SRH a fighting chance with a total of 190.
Player Performances and Statistics
This win marked a turning point for LSG, who had stumbled in their opener against Delhi Capitals. Pooran’s explosive batting and Thakur’s bowling heroics showed they mean business this season. SRH, on the other hand, will rue their inability to post a bigger total on a pitch tailor-made for their aggressive batting style. Travis Head’s start was promising, but the lack of a big score from the middle order hurt them. As IPL 2025 rolls on, LSG will look to build on this momentum, while SRH will aim to bounce back stronger in their next outing.
| Player | Team | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Wickets | Economy |
| Nicholas Pooran | LSG | 70 | 26 | 6 | 6 | – | – |
| Mitchell Marsh | LSG | 52 | 31 | 4 | 3 | – | – |
| Travis Head | SRH | 47 | 28 | 4 | 3 | – | – |
| Aniket Verma | SRH | 36 | 13 | 3 | 3 | – | – |
| Pat Cummins | SRH | 18 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 14.50 |
| Shardul Thakur | LSG | – | – | – | – | 4 | 8.50 |
| Prince Yadav | LSG | – | – | – | – | 2 | 8.75 |
| Adam Zampa | SRH | – | – | – | – | 1 | 11.50 |
This win marked a turning point for LSG, who had stumbled in their opener against Delhi Capitals. Pooran’s explosive batting and Thakur’s bowling heroics showed they mean business this season. SRH, on the other hand, will rue their inability to post a bigger total on a pitch tailor-made for their aggressive batting style. Travis Head’s start was promising, but the lack of a big score from the middle order hurt them. As IPL 2025 rolls on, LSG will look to build on this momentum, while SRH will aim to bounce back stronger in their next outing.