On April 12, 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) outplayed Gujarat Titans (GT) by 6 wickets in IPL 2025 Match 26 at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow, ending GT’s four-game winning run. GT posted 180/6 in 20 overs, powered by half-centuries from Shubman Gill (60 off 38) and Sai Sudharsan (56 off 37), but LSG’s spinners triggered a late collapse (Web ID 23). Chasing 181, LSG rode on Aiden Markram’s 58 off 31 and Nicholas Pooran’s explosive 61 off 34 to reach 186/4 in 19.3 overs, winning with 3 balls to spare (Web ID 20, X @CricketNDTV). LSG climbed to third at 4-2, while GT stayed top at 4-2. This day game (3:30 PM IST) was a thriller—here’s how it unfolded.
Table of Contents
Toss and Lineups
LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and chose to bowl, eyeing Ekana’s black-soil pitch and a chase-friendly day game (Web ID 13). LSG fielded: Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Himmat Singh, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Digvesh Rathi, Avesh Khan, and Ravi Bishnoi (Impact Sub: Ayush Badoni). GT lined up: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Washington Sundar, Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, and Mohammed Siraj (Impact Sub: Prasidh Krishna) (Web ID 10).
GT’s Innings: Gill and Sudharsan Shine, Then Stumble
GT started explosively—Gill and Sudharsan’s 120-run opening stand by the 12th over set a daunting pace, with Gill reaching his fifty in 34 balls and Sudharsan in 32 (X @CricCrazyJohns). Gill’s 60 off 38 (6 fours, 2 sixes) included a flicked six off Thakur, while Sudharsan’s 56 off 37 (5 fours, 1 six) punished Deep (0/40) (Web ID 22). Avesh (1/34) broke through in the 13th over, getting Gill caught at long-on with a cutter, and Bishnoi (2/36) removed Sudharsan, caught at cover, in the next (Web ID 23). Bishnoi also bowled Sundar (2), and Rathi (1/29) dismissed Buttler (16 off 14), caught at short fine leg (Web ID 6). From 120/0, GT slumped to 157/4 by 18 overs, losing momentum (X @NishantTweets30). Thakur’s 2/24, including Rutherford (7) and Tewatia (5) in the final over, restricted GT to 180/6 in 20 overs, with Shahrukh (11*) stranded (Web ID 20).
LSG’s Chase: Markram and Pooran Power Through
LSG’s chase began confidently—Markram (58 off 31, 7 fours, 2 sixes) and Pant (21 off 18) raced to 48/0 in 5 overs. Markram smashed Siraj (0/43) for two fours and a six, while Pant edged a four off Arshad (0/24) (Web ID 22). Prasidh (2/26) struck twice—Pant caught at mid-off and Markram caught by Gill—leaving LSG at 102/2 in 10 overs (Web ID 13). Pooran’s 61 off 34 (4 fours, 7 sixes) took over, hammering three sixes off Sai Kishore (0/32) in one over to slash the asking rate (Web ID 23). Rashid (1/30) got Pooran in the 16th, and Sundar (1/24) bowled Miller (7), but Badoni’s unbeaten 28 off 18 (2 fours, 1 six) and Samad’s 6* off 2 sealed it. Badoni’s six off Prasidh ended it at 186/4 in 19.3 overs (Web ID 20, X @airnewsalerts).
Pitch and Conditions: Spinners Find Grip
Ekana’s black-soil pitch offered bounce and turn—avg 1st innings 170 (Web ID 2). Spinners took 7 wickets (Bishnoi, Rathi key), while pacers struggled (15 wickets season-wide) (Web ID 13). At 32°C with no dew or rain, LSG chased smartly in daylight (Web ID 6, X @crictracker).
Standout Stars
- Nicholas Pooran (LSG): 61 off 34—Player of the Match for his six-laden blitz (Web ID 20).
- Aiden Markram (LSG): 58 off 31—set the tone (Web ID 23).
- Shubman Gill (GT): 60 off 38—captain’s knock (Web ID 22).
- Ravi Bishnoi (LSG): 2/36—turned the game (Web ID 6).
Head-to-Head: LSG Claw Back
GT lead 4-2 in 6 IPL clashes, but LSG’s second win (first since 2024) at Ekana narrows it (Web ID 12). GT’s middle-order woes cost them (X @MidnightMusinng).
What’s Next?
LSG (4-2) face DC away on April 13, aiming to climb higher. GT (4-2) meet CSK on April 14, needing a reset.
Final Take
LSG vs GT Match 26 was a cracker—Gill and Sudharsan’s 120/0 fizzled to 180/6, and Pooran’s seven-six rampage powered LSG home. X lit up with “Pooran’s a beast” and “GT’s collapse hurt” . A statement win—what’s your highlight? Share below!
