IPL 2025: Hardik Pandya’s record-breaking show in vain as LSG return to winning ways at home

New Delhi: Fifties from Mitchell Marsh (60) and Aiden Markram (53) went hard in the game as they set the base for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to set the target of 204 and beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by 12 runs in the 16th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow, here on Friday.

Despite a valiant fifty from Suryakumar Yadav and a remarkable five-wicket haul by Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians fell short while chasing a target of 204, finishing with 191/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav played a key knock of 67 from 43 balls, and Naman Dheer provided solid support with a quickfire 46 off 24 balls. However, Tilak Varma retired hurt at 25 off 23, and captain Hardik Pandya contributed 28 off 16 balls towards the end. Despite their collective efforts, Mumbai could not cross the line and suffered their third loss of IPL 2025 under Hardik’s leadership.

Lucknow Super Giants, batting first, set a competitive target of 204/8. Their innings was marked by a strong start, with the opening duo adding 76 runs. Mitchell Marsh was the standout performer, scoring a brisk 60 from 31 balls. However, LSG lost momentum with quick wickets, as Nicholas Pooran was dismissed for just 12, and captain Rishabh Pant’s struggles continued, falling for just 2.

Ayush Badoni scored 30, and Abdul Samad contributed 4. Aiden Markram anchored the innings with a composed 53 off 38 balls, while David Miller’s quickfire 27 off 13 balls helped LSG post a competitive total. Shardul Thakur remained not out on 5, while Avesh Khan was unbeaten on 2 in the closing stages.

Hardik Pandya shone with the ball, picking up his first-ever IPL five-wicket haul, which included the dismissals of key LSG players Markram, Pooran, Pant, Miller, and Akash Deep. His superb bowling effort kept MI in the game. Other MI bowlers, including Vignesh Puthur, who claimed an early wicket, as well as Trent Boult and Ashwini Kumar, who took one wicket each, also contributed to the effort.

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