LSG vs MI: Lucknow Super Giants Post Commanding 203/8 in First Innings Despite Hardik Pandya’s Five-Wicket Haul

LSG vs MI: In a high-octane clash at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) posted a formidable 203/8 in their 20 overs against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 16 of IPL 2025. The innings was a rollercoaster of explosive batting, tactical bowling, and pivotal momentum shifts, headlined by Mitchell Marsh’s powerplay blitz, Aiden Markram’s stabilizing half-century, and Hardik Pandya’s career-best IPL figures of 5/33 .

Toss and Team Changes

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Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first on a black-soil pitch, a surface known for aiding spinners and offering variable bounce. MI made one strategic change, resting Rohit Sharma due to a knee injury sustained in training, with Ryan Rickelton opening alongside Will Jacks . LSG welcomed back pacer Akash Deep, replacing the struggling Avesh Khan, as part of their bid to strengthen their bowling attack .

Powerplay Dominance: Marsh Sets the Tone

LSG’s innings exploded into life courtesy of Mitchell Marsh, who capitalized on an early reprieve—a missed edge off Trent Boult in the first over—to unleash a brutal assault. The Australian all-rounder raced to a 27-ball half-century, dominating the powerplay with 60 runs off just 30 deliveries. His aggressive strokeplay, including six boundaries and four sixes, propelled LSG to 69/0 after six overs, the highest powerplay score of IPL 2025 .

Marsh’s onslaught forced MI to cycle through four bowlers in the powerplay, but none could contain his fury. His opening partner, Aiden Markram, played a subdued role initially, facing only six deliveries in the first six overs, but his patience laid the groundwork for a crucial middle-order partnership later .

MI Strike Back: Pandya’s Masterclass

The momentum shifted dramatically in the middle overs as Hardik Pandya’s tactical brilliance came to the fore. Marsh fell in the seventh over, top-edging a slower ball from Vignesh Puthur to mid-off, ending his 31-ball 60 . Pandya then removed Nicholas Pooran (12 off 6) and skipper Rishabh Pant (2 off 6) in quick succession, reducing LSG to 107/3 by the 11th over. Pant’s dismissal, a mistimed pull caught at mid-off, extended his poor run in the tournament (17 runs in four innings) and intensified scrutiny over his form .

Pandya’s variations—particularly his back-of-the-hand slower balls—proved lethal. He later returned in the death overs to dismiss David Miller (27 off 14) and Akash Deep (0 off 1), completing his maiden IPL five-wicket haul. His figures of 5/33 marked a career-best performance and underscored his value as MI’s premier all-rounder .

LSG vs MI Playing XI, Toss Update and Match Preview

Markram and Badoni Stabilize, Miller Provides Late Fireworks

After losing three quick wickets, Aiden Markram (58 off 39) and Ayush Badoni (34 off 22) resurrected LSG’s innings with a 50-run partnership. Markram’s calculated aggression—targeting spinners with sweeps and lofted drives—allowed LSG to rebuild, while Badoni’s innovative shots, including ramps and reverse sweeps, kept the scoreboard ticking .

The final flourish came from David Miller, who smashed 27 off 14 balls, including a six and three fours. His 14-ball cameo, coupled with Shardul Thakur’s cameo (9* off 5), propelled LSG past 200. Miller’s dismissal in the 19th over, caught at deep mid-wicket off Pandya, momentarily slowed LSG, but Akash Deep’s two-run burst off the final ball ensured a psychological boost for the hosts .

Pitch and Tactical Analysis

The black-soil pitch, replacing the red-soil surface used in LSG’s previous home game, played slower than expected. While spinners extracted turn, LSG’s batters adapted by targeting the shorter square boundaries and exploiting MI’s occasional loose deliveries. The absence of dew—a factor that often aids chasing teams—could complicate MI’s pursuit, as the pitch is likely to deteriorate further .

MI’s bowlers, particularly Pandya and Trent Boult (1/41), struggled with line and length early but tightened up in the middle overs. Vignesh Puthur (1/28) and Ashwani Kumar (0/33) showed flashes of promise, but LSG’s batters capitalized on their inexperience under pressure .

Key Stats and Milestones

Hardik Pandya became the first MI bowler since Jasprit Bumrah (2020) to take a five-wicket haul in the IPL .
LSG’s 203/8 is only the second 200+ total at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium, following KKR’s 235/6 in 2024 .
Mitchell Marsh’s 60 is the highest individual score by an LSG opener this season .

Conclusion: A Challenging Chase Ahead

LSG’s total of 203 sets up a tantalizing chase for MI, who will rely on Suryakumar Yadav (back in form with 48 and 27* in his last two innings) and Ryan Rickelton (62* in the previous match) to anchor their innings. However, the pitch’s sluggish nature and LSG’s spin duo of Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya could prove decisive. With the game finely balanced, MI’s ability to handle pressure in the middle overs will determine whether they can overcome LSG’s historical dominance (5-1 head-to-head record) and clinch a vital away win .

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