IPL 2025: Hardik’s Five-Wicket Haul Goes in Vain as LSG Edge Past MI
Despite a stunning five-wicket haul from Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians fell short by 12 runs against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2025 clash on Friday night in Lucknow. The match saw standout performances from Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, who powered LSG to a total of 203, while their bowlers held their nerve in a tense finish.
Match Summary
Lucknow Super Giants: 203/8 (Marsh 60, Markram 53, Badoni 30, Hardik 5-36)
Mumbai Indians: 191/5 (Suryakumar 67, Dhir 46, Hardik 28*, Rathi 1-21)
Result: LSG won by 12 runs
LSG Strengthen Record Against MI
With this win, LSG now boast a dominant 6-1 head-to-head record against Mumbai Indians. The foundation was laid by explosive half-centuries from Marsh and Markram, followed by disciplined death-over bowling from Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan.
On the other side, Mumbai Indians’ chase showed promise, especially with Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir combining for a brisk partnership. However, the calculated bowling from LSG in the final overs made all the difference.
How LSG Secured the Win: A Tight Finish
When MI required 52 runs from the final four overs, the match was still finely balanced. With Suryakumar and Tilak Varma at the crease and Hardik Pandya yet to bat, the chase looked very much alive.
But Avesh Khan shifted the momentum with the crucial dismissal of Suryakumar Yadav in the 17th over. Attempting a premeditated sweep to a wide delivery, Suryakumar found the fielder at deep square leg.
Tilak and Hardik managed a boundary each, but Digvesh Rathi’s tight 18th over applied more pressure. Shardul Thakur then executed a near-perfect 19th over, conceding just seven runs and forcing MI to retire out Tilak Varma in favor of Mitchell Santner.
With 22 needed from the last over, Hardik managed a six off the first ball from Avesh, but the bowler stuck to his plan of yorkers and conceded just three more runs. MI ultimately finished 12 runs short.
Suryakumar, Dhir Lead MI’s Response
Despite a poor start, Mumbai looked in control during the middle overs thanks to a blistering knock from Naman Dhir (46 off 21) and a composed 67 from Suryakumar Yadav.
After losing openers Will Jacks and Ryan Rickelton early, Dhir launched a counterattack with aggressive stroke play. Suryakumar complemented him with boundaries on both sides of the wicket, pushing MI’s score past 50 within five overs.
Digvesh Rathi broke the rhythm with a clever carrom ball that bowled Dhir. Even though MI added 88 runs in the middle overs without hitting a six, they couldn’t capitalise on the platform in the death overs.
Marsh and Markram Set the Tone for LSG
Earlier in the evening, LSG got off to a flyer with Marsh smashing 60 off just 31 balls. He had a stroke of luck early on after edging a delivery that went unnoticed by the fielding side. Marsh then took full advantage, punishing the bowlers with clean strikes down the ground.
Markram provided solid support with a composed 53 off 34 balls. The duo added crucial runs in the powerplay and middle overs, allowing LSG to maintain a healthy run rate.
Hardik’s All-Round Brilliance Not Enough
Hardik Pandya produced one of his finest T20 bowling performances, finishing with career-best IPL figures of 5 for 36. His spell included key wickets in the middle and death overs, removing dangerous batters like Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, and Aiden Markram.
He also contributed a quick 28* in the final stretch of the chase, but it wasn’t enough to get Mumbai across the line.
Badoni’s Cameo, Miller’s Finish Push LSG Over 200
Ayush Badoni’s late acceleration and David Miller’s mini-blitz ensured that LSG crossed the 200-run mark. Miller struck a six and a four in the final over and crossed the 3000-run mark in IPL. Despite Hardik picking up two wickets in the last over, LSG ended with a formidable 203 on the board.
Key Takeaways from the Match
- LSG’s Depth in Batting and Bowling: A balanced team performance gave LSG the edge even against a star-studded MI lineup.
- Hardik’s Form with the Ball: His five-wicket haul is the best by a captain in IPL history, showcasing his growing influence with the ball.
- MI’s Late-Innings Tactics: Retiring out Tilak Varma highlighted the tactical shifts teams are exploring under pressure.
Next Fixtures:
- Lucknow Super Giants will look to build on this win and maintain momentum.
- Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, need to reassess their finishing strategies as they face mounting pressure in the league table.
