20 May, 2025 | 01:00 PM
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) crashed out of the IPL 2025 playoff race after a stunning 18-ball half-century from Abhishek Sharma powered Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to a six-wicket win at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. SRH chased down a target of 206 with ten balls to spare, eliminating LSG and leaving Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) in contention for the final playoff spot.
Though SRH were already out of playoff contention, they played with freedom and flair, showcasing their batting depth even in the absence of Travis Head, who missed the match due to a delayed return from a bout of COVID-19. Abhishek led the charge with a destructive 20-ball 59, including six sixes, setting the tone for a commanding chase. Heinrich Klaasen (47), Ishan Kishan (35), and Kamindu Mendis also chipped in to complete the win in 18.2 overs.
Earlier, LSG posted 205 for 7 after a flying start by Mitchell Marsh (65 off 35) and Aiden Markram (61 off 33), who added 115 runs for the opening wicket at a scorching pace. Nicholas Pooran’s 45 off 26 helped lift the total past 200, but SRH’s bowlers struck back strongly in the second half of the innings, picking up seven wickets in the last ten overs.
After cruising to 108 without loss at the halfway stage, LSG lost momentum as SRH’s bowlers exploited the old ball with clever changes of pace. Marsh was the first to go, slicing a turning delivery from debutant spinner Harsh Dubey. Rishabh Pant, promoted to No. 3, fell cheaply again, caught and bowled by Eshan Malinga.
Malinga, Harshal Patel, and Pat Cummins then tightened the screws with a mix of cutters and slower deliveries. The standout was Harshal’s slower yorker that castled Markram and brought up his 150th IPL wicket.
Pooran and Akash Deep added a late flourish, smashing 20 runs in the final over bowled by Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was bowling for the first time this season. Despite that boost, LSG’s total felt under par by the time SRH's top order exploded into life.
SRH’s chase began with Atharva Taide hitting three boundaries before being dismissed for 13. Ishan Kishan and Abhishek then took over, with the latter launching a savage assault. Abhishek smashed four consecutive sixes off Ravi Bishnoi in the seventh over — the most expensive seventh over in IPL history — to race to a 19-ball fifty.
SRH reached 98 for 1 by the end of the seventh over, effectively ending the contest early. Abhishek’s whirlwind knock ended in the next over when he was bowled by Digvesh Rathi trying to manufacture room. The dismissal sparked a heated exchange between the two players, with Rathi giving Abhishek a pointed send-off, which led to on-field intervention from the umpires.
Rathi struck again in the 12th over, bowling Kishan for 35, but it was too little, too late for LSG. Klaasen and Kamindu Mendis added 55 runs to take SRH to the brink before Klaasen fell for 47 and Kamindu retired hurt with a hamstring niggle. SRH needed just nine runs at that point and finished the job with ease.
Rathi finished with figures of 2 for 37 but his aggressive celebration following Abhishek’s wicket, including his signature “notebook” send-off, landed him in trouble. He was later handed a one-match suspension and fined 50% of his match fee due to accumulated demerit points under the IPL Code of Conduct.
LSG’s playoff hopes are officially over. They face Gujarat Titans next without Rathi, who is suspended, before wrapping up their campaign against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 27. SRH, already out of contention, signed off in style, proving once again that their explosive batting can light up the tournament, even in dead rubbers.
Match Summary
LSG 205/7 (Marsh 65, Markram 61, Pooran 45, Malinga 2-28)
SRH 206/4 in 18.2 overs (Abhishek 59, Klaasen 47, Rathi 2-37)
Result: SRH won by 6 wickets
Player of the Match: Abhishek Sharma
