LSG vs KKR Highlights: Lucknow Super Giants Edge Kolkata Knight Riders by 4 Runs

LSG vs KKR Highlights: In a pulsating clash at the iconic Eden Gardens, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) held their nerve to defeat the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by a razor-thin margin of 4 runs in Match 21 of IPL 2025. The game, a high-octane run-fest featuring 472 runs, swung like a pendulum until the final ball, with Nicholas Pooran’s explosive batting and LSG’s late bowling resurgence proving decisive.

LSG’s Batting Onslaught: Pooran, Marsh Light Up Kolkata

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Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane’s decision backfired as LSG’s top order unleashed carnage. Openers Mitchell Marsh (81 off 48 balls) and Aiden Markram (47 off 28) set the tone with a blistering 99-run partnership in 10.3 overs. Marsh, in particular, dominated the powerplay, hammering sixes and fours off pacers like Spencer Johnson and Harshit Rana, while Markram’s elegant strokeplay kept the scoreboard ticking.

The momentum shifted into overdrive when Nicholas Pooran walked in. The West Indian left-hander bludgeoned an unbeaten 87 off just 36 balls, including 8 sixes and 5 fours, propelling LSG to a mammoth 238/3. Pooran’s assault in the death overs, especially a 24-run over against Andre Russell, left KKR’s bowlers shell-shocked. His 21-ball fifty, the fastest of the match, earned him the Player of the Match award.

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KKR’s Valiant Chase: Rahane’s Heroics, Collapse, and Rinku’s Late Flourish

Chasing 239, KKR’s openers Sunil Narine (30 off 13) and Quinton de Kock (15 off 9) exploded in the powerplay, plundering 90 runs in six overs—a record for the season. Narine’s audacious one-handed six off Shardul Thakur and de Kock’s aggression set the stage, but Akash Deep’s LBW dismissal of de Kock via DRS review provided LSG their first breakthrough.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane (61 off 35) then anchored the chase, combining with Venkatesh Iyer (45 off 29) in a 77-run stand. Rahane’s 26-ball fifty, featuring crisp drives and pulls, kept KKR ahead of the required rate. However, the game turned when Shardul Thakur dismissed Rahane with a full toss in the 13th over, triggering a collapse of 5 wickets for 23 runs. LSG’s spinners, Digvesh Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi, tightened the screws, with Bishnoi’s four-run 14th over derailing KKR’s momentum.

Enter Rinku Singh, KKR’s last hope. The left-hander smashed 38* off 15 balls, including three sixes and four boundaries in the final two overs. Needing 24 off the last six deliveries, Rinku clobbered Bishnoi for 19 runs (4, 4, 6), but LSG’s total proved just out of reach.

KKR vs LSG Playing 11, Toss and Match Preview

Turning Points: Thakur’s Redemption and LSG’s Tactical Mastery

Shardul Thakur’s Rollercoaster Over: Thakur’s 13th over epitomized the match’s chaos. After bowling five consecutive wides, he dismissed Rahane with a fortuitous full toss, breaking KKR’s backbone.
Pant’s Captaincy Gambits: LSG skipper Rishabh Pant strategically saved his spinners for the death, trusting pacers Avesh Khan and Akash Deep in the middle overs. His DRS review to dismiss de Kock early was pivotal.
Middle-Order Meltdown: KKR’s collapse from 149/2 to 185/7—losing Rahane, Iyer, Ramandeep Singh, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi in quick succession, exposed their over-reliance on top-order firepower.

Post-Match Reactions

Rishabh Pant (LSG Captain): “We knew it’d be close, but the bowlers stuck to their plans. Pooran and Marsh were exceptional, and I backed the pacers to deliver under pressure”.
Ajinkya Rahane (KKR Captain): “We gave our best, but losing wickets in clusters cost us. The wicket stayed true, but credit to LSG for holding their nerve”.
Aiden Markram: Praised Pooran and Marsh, calling them “freaks” who “hit to all parts”.

Key Stats and Takeaways

LSG’s Batting Dominance: Their 238/3 is the highest total at Eden Gardens in IPL history.
KKR’s Powerplay Surge: 90/1—their highest powerplay score in IPL.
Economy Standouts: Varun Chakaravarthy (0/34 in 4 overs) was KKR’s most economical bowler, while Harshit Rana (2/51) claimed crucial wickets.

Conclusion: A Classic for the Ages

This match encapsulated T20 cricket’s essence, explosive batting, tactical shifts, and edge-of-the-seat drama. For LSG, the win solidified their playoff credentials, while KKR’s middle-order fragility remains a concern. With Rinku Singh’s heroics and Nicholas Pooran’s pyrotechnics, fans were treated to a spectacle that reaffirmed the IPL’s status as cricket’s most electrifying league.

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