Lucknow Super Giants opened their account in IPL 2025, by thrashing a power packed Sunrisers Hyderabad in their own backyard. LSG bowling attack, led admirably by Shardul Thakur, vindicated captain Rishabh Pant’s decision to bowl first on a flat Hyderabad pitch. Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh continued their six-hitting prowess, paving the way for a smooth run chase.
Shardul Thakur’s fairytale run
Shardul Thakur playing in his 97th IPL match, registered his best IPL figures of 4/34. Shardul also reached the coveted milestone of 100 IPL wickets, when he dismissed senior Indian pacer Mohammad Shami in the 19th over. It was even more impressive, given the fact that Shardul Thakur went unsold in the mega auction. Shardul Thakur applied the early brakes by dismissing Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan off successive balls in the third over of the innings.
Travis Head (47 off 28) briefly threatened to take the game away from LSG, until he was stopped by Prince Yadav. Aniket Verma (36 off 13) and Pat Cummins (18 off 4) smashed 8 sixes in the 17 balls they faced.
LSG bowlers’ disciplined show
Rishabh Pant used only five bowlers and all of them chipped in with at least one wicket. Prince Yadav, the 27-year old pacer from Uttar Pradesh was the pick of the lot for his accurate bowling, and was rewarded with the key wicket of Travis Head. The LSG pacers stuck to their plans by bowling full, given the long straight boundaries in Hyderabad.
The Pooran – Marsh show
Aiden Markram failed for the 2nd successive time, and Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh too continued their marauding six-hitting form for the 2nd consecutive time. Pooran reached his fifty off just 18 balls, the fastest of the season. Pooran (70 off 26) was extremely severe against the spinners, clobbering 29 runs in the 7 balls against Abhishek Sharma and Adam Zampa. Marsh was happy to play second fiddle and compiled a brisk 52 off 31 deliveries.
What’s next?
Sunrisers Hyderabad make a short trip to Visakhapatnam and play Delhi Capitals on Sunday afternoon. Lucknow Super Giants host Punjab Kings on Tuesday.
