IPL 2025: Shardul & Pooran Shine in LSG’s 5-Wicket Win Over SRH
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured their first win of the season in style, chasing down Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) 191-run target with an emphatic 5-wicket victory in just 16.1 overs. Nicholas Pooran’s blistering 70 off 26 balls and Mitchell Marsh’s steady 52 set the stage for an entertaining run chase.
Shardul Thakur’s 4-Wicket Magic Restricts SRH
LSG’s decision to bowl first at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium paid off as Shardul Thakur once again delivered a match-winning spell. He removed Abhishek Sharma (6) and Ishan Kishan (0) in quick succession, rattling SRH’s top order. Heinrich Klaasen (26) fell to a bizarre run-out after a deflection off Prince Yadav’s hand.
Travis Head looked dangerous with 47 off 28 but was eventually bowled by Yadav. Late cameos from Aniket Verma (36 off 13) and Pat Cummins (18 off 4) pushed SRH to 190/9, but it seemed below par given the venue’s history of high scores.
Pooran & Marsh Lead LSG’s Charge
LSG began cautiously before Pooran exploded, smashing two sixes and a four off Simarjeet Singh in the third over. Marsh joined the party, hammering Mohammed Shami for two massive sixes, propelling LSG to 77/1 at the end of the powerplay—their second-highest in IPL history.
Pooran’s fifty, the fastest of the season, came in just 21 balls before Cummins trapped him lbw. Marsh continued the momentum, notching up his second consecutive fifty, but Cummins struck again, dismissing him two balls later.
Abdul Samad’s Finishing Touch
LSG wobbled briefly after losing Marsh and Badoni, but Abdul Samad’s fearless 22* off 8 balls sealed the win. He smashed two sixes and a four to finish the job, ensuring LSG wrapped up the chase with 23 balls to spare.
Key Takeaways
- Shardul Thakur’s impact: 4/34 dismantled SRH’s batting lineup.
- Nicholas Pooran’s fireworks: 70 off 26 balls set the tone for LSG’s win.
- Travis Head’s missed chance: Dropped twice, but still scored 47.
- SRH’s late fightback: Aniket Verma and Cummins’ cameos boosted the total.
With this victory, LSG now leads the head-to-head battle 4-1 against SRH.
