In a gripping IPL 2025 encounter on April 4, 2025, at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) showcased their mastery in death bowling to secure a 12-run victory over Mumbai Indians (MI). The match, a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, underscored LSG’s tactical acumen and composure under pressure, while exposing MI’s vulnerabilities in the clutch despite a valiant effort. With LSG posting 203/8 and MI finishing at 191/5, the game hinged on the final overs, where LSG’s bowlers turned the tide with pinpoint execution.
LSG’s Batting Firepower Sets a Daunting Target
LSG’s innings was a tale of resilience and aggression, driven by half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh (60 off 31) and Aiden Markram (53 off 38). Marsh’s explosive knock, laced with powerful strokes, exploited MI’s early bowling inconsistencies, while Markram anchored the middle overs with calculated aggression. The black-soil pitch, known for its batting-friendly nature under lights, played into LSG’s hands as they accelerated late. However, MI skipper Hardik Pandya’s sensational 5/36, including a flurry of wickets with slower short balls, threatened to derail LSG’s momentum. Despite this, their total of 203/8 reflected a blend of individual brilliance and adaptability, setting a target that demanded MI’s best.
MI’s bowling strategy showed promise, particularly Pandya’s use of pace-off deliveries, which yielded five wickets for just 36 runs across his spell. Yet, their inability to contain Marsh and Markram earlier allowed LSG to post a score that kept them in the driver’s seat. The stage was set for a thrilling chase, with MI needing to balance aggression and stability on a surface offering little margin for error.
Death Overs Drama: LSG’s Bowlers Steal the Show
MI’s reply began with intent, as Suryakumar Yadav (67 off 43) and Naman Dhir (46) built a platform that kept them in contention. Yadav’s fluency and Dhir’s power-hitting neutralized LSG’s early bowling efforts, while Digvesh Singh’s tidy 1/21, including Dhir’s scalp, provided a glimmer of control. However, the game’s defining moments unfolded in the death overs, where LSG’s bowlers executed their plans with surgical precision.
Just the breakthrough #LSG needed!
Avesh Khan’s change in pace does the trick as LSG dismiss Surya Kumar Yadav at a crucial juncture! 👊
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/HHS1Gsaw71#TATAIPL | #LSGvMI | @LucknowIPL pic.twitter.com/KKptbNOjLI
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 4, 2025
With 29 runs needed off the last two overs, Shardul Thakur’s 19th over was a masterstroke—conceding just 7 runs and forcing MI into a desperate move as Tilak Varma (25 off 23) retired out to bring in Mitchell Santner. The gamble flopped, leaving MI with 22 to get off the final over. Enter Avesh Khan, who absorbed the pressure of Hardik Pandya’s six off the first ball before switching to relentless yorkers and full-length deliveries. His over yielded only 9 runs, with dots and a single sealing MI’s fate when 14 were needed off the last two balls.
The detailed bowling figures, as sourced from, provide insight:
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Key Overs in Death Phase |
| Avesh Khan | 4 | 40 | 1 | 10 | 20th over: 9 runs, final over hero |
| Shardul Thakur | 4 | 40 | 1 | 10 | 19th over: 7 runs, tight control |
| Digvesh Singh | 4 | 21 | 1 | 5.25 | Contributed earlier, Player of Match |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 4 | 40 | 0 | 10 | Bowled in death, less effective |
| Akash Deep | 4 | 46 | 1 | 11.5 | Bowled earlier, less impact in death |
LSG’s death bowling stood in stark contrast to MI’s earlier success with slower balls, highlighting their adaptability and nerve. This victory, LSG’s sixth in seven meetings against MI, reinforced their dominance in this fixture. For MI, despite Pandya’s all-round heroics and Yadav’s class, the loss exposed a recurring inability to close out tight chases—a concern as IPL 2025 progresses. LSG, meanwhile, emerged as a team thriving in high-stakes moments, their bowlers proving the difference when it mattered most.
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