SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) faced a shocking defeat against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the IPL 2025 clash, despite being the favorites. LSG, led by stellar performances from Nicholas Pooran and Shardul Thakur, comfortably chased down SRH’s target of 191 in just 16.1 overs. SRH, known for their explosive batting, failed to live up to expectations, crumbling at 190/9. Nitish Kumar Reddy, who was expected to make a significant impact, managed only 32 off 28 balls. Frustrated after his dismissal, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s anger was evident as he vented out by throwing his helmet. This moment, captured on camera, quickly went viral on social media.
SRH, batting first, struggled to find momentum after losing wickets at regular intervals. Travis Head (47) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (32) tried to rebuild the innings with a 61-run partnership, but their efforts fell short as LSG bowlers dominated. Aniket Verma’s explosive 36 off 13 balls provided some late fireworks, but it was not enough. Shardul Thakur was the standout performer with the ball, picking up four crucial wickets for 34 runs, dismantling SRH’s batting lineup.
In response, LSG had a shaky start as Mohammed Shami dismissed Aiden Markram for just one run. However, Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh turned the game around with a breathtaking 116-run partnership in just 43 balls. Pooran’s blistering knock of 70 off 26 balls, which included six fours and six sixes, set the tone for LSG’s aggressive chase. Marsh played the perfect supporting role, scoring 52 off 31 balls before falling to Pat Cummins.
LSG’s innings did see a minor collapse as they lost Rishabh Pant (15) and Ayush Badoni (6) quickly, but Abdul Samad and David Miller ensured there were no late hiccups. Samad’s quickfire 22 off 8 balls, coupled with Miller’s unbeaten 13, sealed the victory for LSG with 23 balls to spare.
Shardul Thakur’s brilliant four-wicket haul played a decisive role in restricting SRH. His dismissals of key batters like Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan put SRH on the back foot early in the game. Pat Cummins tried to add some late momentum with three sixes in a row, but his cameo of 18 off four balls was cut short by Avesh Khan.
With this victory, LSG proved their mettle against a strong SRH side, raising questions about Hyderabad’s batting approach. Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar Reddy’s outburst after his dismissal became a major talking point, highlighting SRH’s growing frustration. The loss has dented SRH’s campaign, while LSG’s emphatic win has bolstered their standing in IPL 2025.
