The race for the final IPL 2025 playoff spot has narrowed down to just two teams—Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals—after Lucknow Super Giants were knocked out. They suffered a crushing defeat to an already-eliminated Sunrisers Hyderabad.
What looked like a commanding total of 205 for seven, set up by Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram's explosive opening stand, was rendered inadequate by a jaw-dropping six-hitting masterclass from Abhishek Sharma. He hammered a 20-ball 59 to put SRH firmly in command of the chase. Despite missing Travis Head—sidelined due to a delayed return after a bout of Covid-19—SRH's batting came to life at the Ekana Stadium in spectacular fashion.
LSG's Fiery Start Fizzles Out
After being put into bat, LSG's openers came out blazing. Marsh and Markram reunited at the top and tore into the new ball, plundering 115 runs in under 11 overs. Marsh looked unstoppable, racing to 41 off just 22 balls by the end of the powerplay, while Markram was equally fluent with 26 off 14.
At 108 without loss after ten overs, LSG were eyeing a total well beyond 220. But the surface, which seemed like a batting paradise early on, began to assist the bowlers once the ball aged. The shift started with Harshal Patel, whose full delivery beat Marsh's timing and narrowly avoided a return catch.
That moment marked the beginning of a collapse. Marsh departed in the very next over, falling to Harsh Dubey. Then came a rare promotion for captain Rishabh Pant. Yet, he lasted just six balls before chipping a return catch to Eshan Malinga. The SRH bowlers turned the screws with a flurry of slower deliveries, cutters, and yorkers.
Markram, trying to maintain tempo, was undone by a disguised dipping yorker from Harshal Patel, giving the seamer his 150th IPL wicket. The final over yielded 20 runs, thanks to late hits from Pooran (45 off 26) and Akash Deep, but also included three wickets, including two run-outs—symptomatic of LSG's desperation.
Despite the early fireworks, LSG managed just 97 runs for seven wickets in their final ten overs.
Abhishek's Carnage Turns Tables
In response, SRH wasted no time. Impact Sub Atharva Taide briefly provided some early boundaries before falling to debutant Will O'Rourke. That brought in Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma—two left-handers with one mission: dismantle the target.
Kishan's elegant six over cover set the tone, but Abhishek truly turned the game on its head. He started cautiously. Then, he erupted in the fifth and sixth overs before exploding in the seventh—hitting four consecutive sixes off Ravi Bishnoi in what turned out to be the most expensive seventh over in IPL history.
By the end of that over, Abhishek had raced to 59 off just 20 balls, including six sixes, and SRH to 98 for one. Bishnoi's variations, often lethal against left-handers, were rendered ineffective by Abhishek's timing, power, and fearless approach.
Rathi Shows Promise, But SRH Stay on Course
Digvesh Rathi, an uncapped rookie in his debut season, was LSG's go-to bowler as things spiraled. He did pick up the big wicket of Abhishek, who tried to repeat his heroics but ended up losing shape and was caught out. The dismissal was followed by a send-off and a heated exchange that required umpire intervention.
Rathi later removed Kishan, bowling him around his legs as the batter attempted a reverse sweep. But by then, SRH were cruising.
Klaasen (47 off 30) and Kamindu Mendis (32*) stitched together a 55-run partnership that erased any doubts. There were late hiccups—Klaasen edged behind, and Kamindu limped off, retired hurt. Yet, the equation had been reduced to a formality.
SRH sealed the chase with 10 balls remaining, proving that it can outgun the best when their batting clicks—even without their regular stars.
What This Means for the Playoff Race
LSG's inconsistency, especially their middle-order fragility and bowling dependence on rookies like Rathi, finally caught up with them. With this defeat, they are mathematically out of the top-four contention.
SRH, though already eliminated, played party spoilers in style and left the fans wondering what could've been had this batting unit shown such form earlier in the season.
As the dust settles, it's a straight shootout between MI and DC for the last playoff berth. And fans can expect a thrilling end to the league stage if the drama from this match is any indication.