On April 8, 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) clinched a nail-biting 4-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025 Match 21 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. LSG posted a mammoth 238/3, powered by Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten 87 off 36, only for KKR to respond with 234/7, falling agonizingly short despite Ajinkya Rahane’s 61 off 35 and Rinku Singh’s late 38 off 15. This high-scoring day game (3:30 PM IST) showcased LSG’s batting might and resilience, handing KKR their second loss in five games. Here’s how it unfolded.
Table of Contents
Toss and Lineups
LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bat, eyeing a big total on Eden’s flat deck (Web ID 2). LSG fielded: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Rathi, Akash Deep, and Avesh Khan (Impact Sub: Ravi Bishnoi). KKR, led by Ajinkya Rahane, stuck with: Quinton de Kock (wk), Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Venkatesh Iyer, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Spencer Johnson, Harshit Rana, and Varun Chakaravarthy (Web ID 8).
LSG’s Innings: Pooran’s Fireworks
LSG’s openers set the tone—Marsh (81 off 48, 8 fours, 3 sixes) and Markram (47 off 28) smashed 90 in the powerplay (X @DasSuvranil). KKR’s bowlers struggled—Harshit Rana (0/54) and Spencer Johnson (0/47) leaked runs, while Narine (0/34) couldn’t stem the flow (Web ID 6). Pooran’s arrival at 149/2 (12 overs) ignited chaos—his unbeaten 87 off 36 (7 fours, 6 sixes) included a 20-run over off Andre Russell (1/47), propelling LSG to 238/3 in 20 overs (Web ID 3). Badoni’s 13* off 7 added late gloss, leaving KKR a daunting 11.95 RPO chase.
KKR’s Chase: Rahane Shines, Collapse Costs
KKR’s reply roared to life—Narine (30 off 13, 2 fours, 2 sixes) and de Kock (15 off 9) raced to 37/0 in 2.3 overs before Akash Deep (1/45) trapped de Kock lbw via DRS (Web ID 13). Rahane (61 off 35, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Narine plundered 60/1 by the 4th over, with Shardul Thakur (1/53) leaking 15, including five wides (Web ID 6). Venkatesh Iyer (45 off 26) kept the tempo, pushing KKR to 149/2 by 12 overs—needing 90 off 48 (X @FracturedMalang). But LSG struck back—Rathi (1/47) bowled Narine, Thakur got Rahane, and Bishnoi (1/47, subbed in) removed Ramandeep Singh (1), triggering a collapse of 5/33 in 4 overs (X @DaharwalK). Rinku’s 38* off 15 (3 fours, 2 sixes) and Harshit Rana’s 10* off 5 took KKR to 234/7 in 20 overs, but Bishnoi’s final over (19 runs) sealed LSG’s win (Web ID 17).
Pitch and Conditions: Batting Paradise
Eden’s pitch was a belter—avg 1st innings 191, with 8/17 wins batting first since 2023 (Web ID 2). The day game (33°C, 50% humidity) saw no dew, favoring LSG’s total (Web ID 5). Spinners gripped late—Chakaravarthy (0/34) and Bishnoi turned it—but 238 proved just enough (X @crictracker).
Standout Stars
- Nicholas Pooran (LSG): 87* off 36—Player of the Match for his brutal assault.
- Mitchell Marsh (LSG): 81 off 48—set the platform.
- Ajinkya Rahane (KKR): 61 off 35—kept KKR alive.
- Rinku Singh (KKR): 38* off 15—nearly stole it.
Head-to-Head: LSG Pull Ahead
LSG now lead 4-2 in 6 IPL clashes with KKR, snapping KKR’s 2-0 sweep in 2024 (Web ID 22). This was their second Eden win, underlining their edge.
What’s Next?
LSG (3-2) face SRH in Hyderabad on April 11, aiming for a streak. KKR (2-3) visit CSK on April 11, needing a reset. Can Rahane rally his Knights?
Final Take
KKR vs LSG Match 21 was a run-fest—472 aggregate runs, the highest between these sides (Web ID 3). Pooran’s carnage and LSG’s late bowling twist outdid KKR’s valiant chase—X buzzed with “Pooran’s a beast” (@Crick_logist) and “KKR bottled it” (@poserarcher). A classic—what’s your highlight? Share below!
