Lucknow clashed with Gujarat Titans at home
The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise maintained their winning streak in a thrilling weekend match. On Saturday, April 12, the Gujarat Titans, managed by Shubman Gill, faced the Rishabh Pant-led team in Match 26 of the current Indian Premier League season (2025) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium.
Notably, Gujarat was invited to bat first after Pant won the toss. It is important to note that the final game played at the venue, in which the hosts batted first, ended up being a high-scoring match. This time, however, they would have rather run and chase. The Titans started well, with their openers getting off to a strong start, thus it appears like the decision backfired for the hosts. Lucknow, however, won the match and kept GT below the 200-run threshold in the closing moments.
Talking Points
1. Gill–Sudharsan batting show
While batting first, the pair of captain Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan got the team to a strong start. The pair added 120 runs for the first wicket in just 12.1 overs. As a result, from that point, GT were looking all set to score big. Sudharsan scored 56 runs off 37 balls, while his captain scored a brisk 60 runs off 38 deliveries. However, in the 13th over, pacer Avesh Khan got Lucknow a much-needed breakthrough as Gill was dismissed by a brilliant catch from Aiden Markram on the boundary. Soon after, Sudharsan too went back to the pavilion, leaving GT with new batters.
However, after their departure, Gujarat lost their scoring momentum and continued to lose wickets at regular intervals. Shardul Thakur and Ravi Bishnoi picked up two wickets each. Consequently, the middle order failed to get going and were unable to push the team beyond the expected total of over 200. In the end, Gujarat Titans finished with 180/6 on the board.
2. Pant comes out as opener with Markram
In reply to the run chase, after missing Mitchell Marsh due to family reasons, captain Rishabh Pant took on the responsibility of opening and came out to bat with Aiden Markram. Known for his thrilling batting style and expected fireworks upfront, Pant tried to play vigilantly in a bid to score big at the top of the order. However, he could not play freely and ended up being dismissed for 21 runs off 18 balls.
Meanwhile, Markram continued his good batting rhythm from the last game and scored a vital half-century (58 runs off 31 balls). The pair added 65 runs for the opening wicket, and by the time Markram was dismissed, Lucknow were in a strong position at 123/2 in the 12th over.
3. Nicholas Pooran plays fiery knock
After losing both openers, star West Indies batter Nicholas Pooran arrived at the crease. He continued his sublime form in IPL 2025 and went all guns blazing after facing a few balls. He was hitting sixes quite cleanly, which rattled the bowlers of Gujarat Titans. As a result, LSG were 140/2 after the end of 13 overs, when the umpire signalled for a strategic time-out.
4. Rashid–Washington’s stunning bowling in death overs
However, a twist in the tale was awaiting as Pooran (61 runs off 34 balls) was dismissed by Rashid Khan in the 16th over. The match took another interesting turn when David Miller was given not out for a possible run-out chance, and Gill was seen having a word with the umpire regarding the same. But this did not cost GT any further, as Miller was bowled by Washington Sundar.
5. Last over bowled by Sai Kishore, Badoni finishes in style
Captain Shubman Gill made an interesting decision to have the left-arm spinner Ravindra Sai Kishore bowl the last over of the match. Ayush Badoni, who took the onus to stay till the end after Miller’s departure, swept the second ball of the over for a boundary. In the end, on the third ball, Badoni smoked Kishore over mid-wicket to finish the match in style with a six for the Lucknow Super Giants.
Meanwhile, here’s what both captains and POTM (Player of the Match) said regarding how the match panned out on Saturday:
Who Said What?
Rishabh Pant, LSG (Winning captain) said,
Definitely feeling happy. Like we said before, just following the same process and believing in our ability and taking it one game at a time. [On the bowling comeback] I think the idea was mostly to bowl yorkers and slower ones into the wicket. And the way the bowlers executed at that point of time was amazing. [On GT’s total] Definitely the way it went in the starting, we weren’t happy, but the way we pulled it back was amazing to see. [On his batting] I think every match I am feeling much better.
Today Marsh not being there gave me an opportunity and I thought the more time I spend at the wicket it’ll help me going forward in the tournament. It’s a team game eventually. You’re going to keep winning the matches and put your best foot forward. [On Pooran] I think one thing is for sure is that we are happy to have Nicholas Pooran in our team. You want someone like him on your side and not batting against you. The way he is reading the game right now, the way he is batting is phenomenal.
Shubman Gill, GT (Losing captain) said,
Wicket wasn’t easy to hit from the get go and this was the conversation that if there’s one batsman set we have to play 17-18 overs so we can get to 200-210 but losing back-to-back wickets didn’t help our cause. When we were batting the ball was stopping, it wasn’t an easy wicket from the first ball. Our strike rotation wasn’t as good as expected and that’s something we have to work on.
Always looking to take wickets, that was the conversation. We were behind the game but if we got a few quick wickets, we could take the match deep. We got a few wickets after the 10th over but the ball didn’t stop as much as we thought it would. Fighting till the end was a good sign for us. That was the conversation in the second timeout, that we’ll take it as deep as possible.
Aiden Markram, Player of the Match said,
[On gathering form] You want to start the competition ahead of the game but I fell slightly behind. A change in role so was adjusting to that. Couldn’t come off in the first few but grateful for the last couple of knocks. Schedules are packed so you’re just hopping around playing lots of cricket. Lots to take in but ultimately you stick to your game. Some guys hit sixes for fun, but that’s not my game.
[On batting with Marsh and Pooran] You can easily [get sucked into trying to hit sixes]. But you always end up going back to your game as a player and if that’s good enough for selection, and the team can benefit, that’s the most important. [Did the surface change?] Obviously it was slightly on the slower side under the hot sun. We were expecting a change after ten overs in our innings but with the lights on it got better. We have to keep it in mind that batting first, it can be tough in day games here.
India
