The stage was set for a thrilling encounter as Lucknow Super Giants took on Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League. And what a match it turned out to be! Lucknow ultimately emerged victorious, winning by 5 wickets. This was their first win in the 2025 season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad had set a target of 190 runs, but Lucknow Super Giants chased it down with 23 balls to spare. The heroes of the match were Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, and Shardul Thakur. Thakur, in particular, was instrumental in setting up the win for Lucknow, taking 4 wickets and breaking the back of Hyderabad’s batting lineup.
A dominant performance
Lucknow’s win was all the more impressive given that it came against Sunrisers Hyderabad at their home ground. The team’s batting lineup, which had been struggling, finally came good, with several players making important contributions.
Rishabh Pant, who had failed to make an impact in the previous match, again had a disappointing outing, scoring just 15 runs off 15 balls. However, Abdul Samad played a crucial cameo towards the end, scoring 22 runs off just 8 balls, including 2 fours and 2 sixes. His innings ensured that Lucknow crossed the finish line with ease.
A surprising star
Shardul Thakur, who had gone unsold in the mega auction, proved to be a valuable addition to the Lucknow team. He replaced the injured Mohsin Khan and made an instant impact, taking 4 wickets in the match. His performance highlighted the importance of having a strong bowling lineup.
Sunrisers Hyderabad’s loss also exposed their over-reliance on their top-order batsmen. The team’s fortunes seem to be heavily dependent on the performance of these three players, and they will need to find a way to distribute the workload more evenly if they are to succeed in the tournament.
The win was a much-needed boost for Lucknow Super Giants, and they will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches. With players like Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, and Shardul Thakur in their lineup, they have the talent and depth to make a serious push for the title.