"GT vs LSG Highlights: Super Giants Crush Table-Toppers Titans by 33 Runs."

"GT vs LSG Highlights: Super Giants Crush Table-Toppers Titans by 33 Runs."


GT vs LSG Highlights, IPL 2025: Lucknow Super Giants Thrash Table-Toppers Gujarat Titans by 33 Runs.

Match Overview

            In a high-octane clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on May 22, 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) delivered a stunning upset, defeating the table-topping Gujarat Titans (GT) by 33 runs in Match 64 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

This victory marked LSG’s second win over GT in the season, snapping their four-match losing streak and denting GT’s hopes of securing a top-two finish. Powered by a sensational century from Mitchell Marsh and a fiery half-century from Nicholas Pooran, LSG posted a formidable 235/2. Despite a valiant effort from GT’s Shahrukh Khan, LSG’s bowlers, led by Will O’Rourke and Ayush Badoni, held their nerve to restrict GT to 202/9, sealing a comprehensive victory.

Pre-Match Context

Gujarat Titans entered the match as favorites, sitting atop the IPL 2025 points table with 18 points from 12 matches. With a playoff spot already secured, GT aimed to cement a top-two position, which would grant them two opportunities to reach the final. Their batting lineup, led by the prolific trio of Sai Sudharsan (617 runs), Shubman Gill (601 runs), and Jos Buttler (500 runs), had been a cornerstone of their success, combining for 16 half-centuries and a century. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by Prasidh Krishna (21 wickets), Mohammed Siraj, and R Sai Kishore, was equally formidable, bolstered by the return of Kagiso Rabada.

Lucknow Super Giants, on the other hand, were out of playoff contention following a crushing loss to Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite their inconsistent season, LSG had shown flashes of brilliance, particularly through their top order. Mitchell Marsh, the second-highest run-scorer in IPL 2025, and Nicholas Pooran, the leading run-getter, had been pivotal. However, captain Rishabh Pant’s poor form, with an average of 12.27, had been a concern. LSG were further hampered by the suspension of their key bowler, Digvesh Rathi, due to a breach of the IPL Code of Conduct, forcing them to rely on their remaining bowlers to step up.

Toss and Pitch Report

GT captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field, a decision influenced by the pitch’s reputation as a batting paradise. The Narendra Modi Stadium’s black-soil surface was described as hard, with a tinge of green, offering early assistance to seamers but promising big runs for batters who settled in. The square boundaries measured 61m and 67m, with the straight boundary at 70m, suggesting a high-scoring encounter. Murali Kartik, on commentary, noted that batting first was not a bad option, given the pitch’s balanced nature.

LSG Innings: Marsh and Pooran’s Explosive Batting

Lucknow Super Giants set the tone early, with openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram capitalizing on the batting-friendly conditions. The duo added 91 runs for the first wicket, providing a solid foundation. Marsh, in particular, was in scintillating form, unleashing a barrage of boundaries and sixes. His aggressive approach was evident from the outset, as he dispatched Mohammed Siraj’s opening over with authority.

Markram played the supporting role, contributing a steady 36 off 26 balls before falling to R Sai Kishore in the 10th over, attempting to clear the long-off boundary. Marsh, undeterred, continued his onslaught, reaching his fifty in just 23 balls. He found an able partner in Nicholas Pooran, who joined him at the crease and immediately upped the ante. The duo’s 121-run partnership for the second wicket was a masterclass in power-hitting, breaking LSG’s record for the highest second-wicket stand in IPL history.

Marsh reached his maiden IPL century in 56 balls, a 64-ball 117 studded with 12 fours and 7 sixes. His innings was a blend of brute force and calculated aggression, exploiting GT’s bowlers, who struggled to find answers. Pooran, not to be outdone, smashed an unbeaten 56 off 27 balls, including 5 sixes and 3 fours, taking his season tally to 349 runs. A quickfire 16 not out from captain Rishabh Pant in the final overs propelled LSG to a mammoth 235/2, their highest total of the season. The innings featured 17 fours and 17 sixes, showcasing LSG’s dominance.

For GT, Arshad Khan (1/48) and R Sai Kishore (1/44) were the only wicket-takers, but their bowling unit was expensive. Prasidh Krishna (0/50) and Kagiso Rabada (0/47) were taken to the cleaners, while Mohammed Siraj managed a relatively economical 0/37 in his four overs. GT’s decision to field first backfired, as they conceded 15-20 runs more than anticipated, with Shubman Gill later admitting they expected to restrict LSG to 210-220.

GT Innings: A Promising Start Derailed

Chasing a daunting 236, Gujarat Titans needed their top order to fire. Openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill started confidently, adding 46 runs in 5.2 overs. Sudharsan, playing a lofted drive, was dismissed for 21 by Will O’Rourke, who struck early to give LSG a breakthrough. Gill, joined by Jos Buttler, continued to keep GT in the hunt, with the duo stitching together a 53-run partnership. However, Gill’s dismissal for 35, caught at long-on off Avesh Khan, triggered a mini-collapse.

Buttler, who scored 33, fell in the next over to Akash Maharaj, leaving GT at 99/3 after 10 overs. The middle order, untested for much of the season due to the top order’s dominance, faced immense pressure. Sherfane Rutherford and Shahrukh Khan rose to the occasion, forging an 86-run partnership that reignited GT’s hopes. Rutherford’s aggressive 38 off 21 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes, complemented Shahrukh’s explosive 57 off 29 balls, which featured 5 fours and 3 sixes.

At 182/3 after 16 overs, GT seemed in control, needing 54 runs off the last four overs. However, Will O’Rourke’s 17th over turned the game on its head. He dismissed Rutherford and Rahul Tewatia (2) in quick succession, finishing with figures of 3/41. Shahbaz Ahmed chipped in with the wicket of Arshad Khan (1), while Ayush Badoni’s final over proved decisive. Badoni, bowling his right-arm off-breaks, dismissed Kagiso Rabada (1) and Sai Kishore (1), both bowled, to wrap up the innings. GT finished at 202/9, falling 33 runs short.

Rashid Khan remained unbeaten on 4, but the lack of support from the lower order and the mounting required rate proved too much. LSG’s bowlers, despite early punishment, showed resilience, with O’Rourke’s three wickets and Badoni’s 2/4 in the final over sealing the deal.

Key Moments and Turning Points


1. Mitchell Marsh’s Century: Marsh’s 117 off 64 balls set the tone for LSG’s massive total, putting GT’s bowlers under relentless pressure.

2. Pooran’s Blazing Fifty: Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten 56 off 27 balls, with 7 sixes, ensured LSG maintained their momentum.

3. Will O’Rourke’s Double Strike: O’Rourke’s 17th over, where he dismissed Rutherford and Tewatia, shifted the momentum decisively in LSG’s favor.

4. Ayush Badoni’s Final Over: Badoni’s two wickets in the last over, including a pinpoint yorker to Rabada, ensured GT couldn’t stage a late comeback.

5. GT’s Middle-Order Collapse: The quick dismissals of Gill, Buttler, and the middle order exposed GT’s reliance on their top order, hampering their chase.

Post-Match Reflections
Mitchell Marsh (Player of the Match)

Mitchell Marsh, awarded Player of the Match for his sensational century, reflected on his journey in the IPL, from his debut with Deccan Chargers to opening for LSG.

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