Image: Will Jacks was named Player of the Match following MI's victory against LSG / © CricXtasy
The 45th match of the Indian Premier League 2025 saw Mumbai Indians (MI) take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at Wankhede Stadium on April 27. In a high-stakes encounter, MI posted an imposing total of 215/7 in their allotted 20 overs, and LSG, chasing a target of 216, were restricted to 161, handing MI a 54-run victory.
Batting first, Mumbai Indians had a steady but explosive start to their innings. Ryan Rickelton was in prime form as he played a blazing knock of 58 runs off 32 balls, including 6 fours and 4 sixes, bringing the crowd to life with his strokeplay. His effort was instrumental in providing MI with a solid foundation. His wicket fell at 33/1 when he was dismissed by Digvesh Rathi after being caught by Badoni. Rohit Sharma, who joined Rickelton at the top of the order, played a brief cameo, scoring 12 runs off 5 balls. He fell early to Mayank Yadav, caught by Prince Yadav, leaving MI at 33/2 after 2.5 overs.
Will Jacks, who had been in good touch throughout the tournament, contributed with 29 runs off 21 balls but was dismissed by Prince Yadav at 116/3. The loss of Jacks was quickly followed by the departure of Tilak Varma (6), who was caught by Prince Yadav off Ravi Bishnoi’s bowling, leaving MI at 137/4 in the 13th over. Despite the fall of regular wickets, Suryakumar Yadav held the innings together with an exceptional 54 runs off 28 balls, which included 4 fours and 4 sixes. He looked in complete control as he built partnerships in the middle.
He was dismissed at 157/5 in the 15th over, caught by Marsh off Avesh Khan’s bowling. Hardik Pandya’s short stay was uncharacteristically brief as he made just 5 runs from 7 balls, falling to Yadav, and leaving MI at 157/6. However, Naman Dhir played a crucial cameo at the end, scoring an unbeaten 25 runs off 11 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 227.27. He was supported by Deepak Chahar (1*), who faced a single ball in the last over.
The fall of wickets continued to impact the flow of runs, with the seventh wicket falling at 208, leaving MI with just two overs to finish strongly. Their final total of 215/7 was a commendable one, largely due to Rickelton, Suryakumar, and Dhir’s contributions. MI’s total was put together at an aggressive rate, scoring 215 at a rate of 10.75 runs per over. The contribution of each batter, along with a brilliant ending by Naman Dhir, helped MI put up a target that proved to be challenging for LSG. In terms of bowling, Mayank Yadav, Avesh Khan, and Ravi Bishnoi all played key roles, with Yadav and Avesh picking up two wickets each, while Ravi Bishnoi took one.
In response, Lucknow Super Giants faced an uphill task of chasing down 216 in their 20 overs. LSG’s top order got off to a shaky start as Aiden Markram was dismissed early for 9, caught by Naman Dhir off the bowling of Jasprit Bumrah. The score was 18/1 after 2.4 overs. Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran tried to steady the ship, with Marsh contributing 34 runs off 24 balls, while Pooran added 27 runs off 15 balls. Pooran, however, fell in the 6th over when he was dismissed by Will Jacks, caught by Yadav at 60/2.
Rishabh Pant, captaining LSG, couldn’t contribute much as he fell for just 4 runs off 2 balls. He was caught by KV Sharma off Jacks at 64/3 in the 6.3 overs. Ayush Badoni, who had been a solid performer for LSG in previous matches, stepped up with a much-needed 35 runs from 22 balls, but his departure at 135/5 in the 14th over slowed down the chase. David Miller was another important batter for LSG, contributing 24 runs from 16 balls, but he fell in the 15th over, leaving LSG struggling at 141/6.
Abdul Samad was dismissed for just 2 runs off 4 balls, bringing LSG to 142/7. Ravi Bishnoi added some valuable runs (13 off 14 balls) but was dismissed by Corbin Bosch, reducing LSG to 142/8 in the 16th over. Avesh Khan, who had earlier bowled effectively in the MI innings, couldn’t get going and was dismissed without scoring, falling to Bumrah at 142/9. Prince Yadav and Digvesh Rathi, the last two batters, were left with too much to do. Rathi was dismissed for 1 in the 20th over by Trent Boult, leaving LSG all out for 161.
LSG’s innings ended on a sour note with wickets falling at regular intervals. They were all out in 19.6 overs, well short of their target. Despite some solid performances from Marsh, Pooran, and Badoni, LSG’s chase fell apart as they lost wickets at crucial junctures. MI’s bowling attack was led by Jasprit Bumrah, who was the standout performer with 4 wickets for 22 runs, while Trent Boult contributed with 3 wickets for 20 runs. Will Jacks also took two wickets, playing a vital role in restricting LSG.
With the match ending with Mumbai Indians securing a crucial victory, they have moved up to 2nd place in the points table, tied on 12 points with Gujarat Titans, from 10 matches. Mumbai has won 6 and lost 4, with a net run rate (NRR) of +0.889. Their solid performance has positioned them as strong contenders for a playoff spot and might enable them to go past the next round.
On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants have dropped to 5th place after this defeat, with 10 points from 10 matches. LSG has won 5 and lost 5, but their negative net run rate of -0.325 has hampered their position. Despite being tied on points with teams ahead of them, LSG’s NRR puts them in a difficult situation for the playoffs. The competition remains fierce, and both teams will need to perform consistently in the remaining matches to secure their spot.
What can be termed as the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game, Rishabh Pant’s dismissal proved to be a turning point for Lucknow Super Giants in their match against Mumbai Indians. At a critical juncture, with LSG placed at 64 for 3 and chasing 216, Pant was expected to anchor the chase and turn the tide in their favour. However, he fell to a poor shot selection, one of the recurring themes in his recent performances. Pant attempted a reverse sweep off Will Jacks, but the ball was pitched around leg stump, and his premeditated shot went wrong.
He got an edge, which was safely caught at short third man by Karn Sharma. This dismissal was a massive blow to LSG’s hopes, as Pant, with his explosive capabilities, was seen as the key to accelerating the run chase. With Pant’s departure at 64 for 3, the innings faltered, and LSG lost momentum. From that point, they slid further, eventually collapsing to 161 all out. Mumbai Indians went on to win the match by 54 runs, securing a vital victory in IPL 2025, with Pant’s early exit marking the end of Lucknow’s resurgence.
Being termed as the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, Jasprit Bumrah delivered a spell that completely turned the game in the Mumbai Indians’ favour. With the pressure of defending a massive total of 216, Bumrah produced a masterclass with the ball, finishing with outstanding figures of 4 for 22 in his four overs. His impact was felt instantly as he dismantled the Lucknow Super Giants’ middle order with precision and pace. Bumrah struck twice in one over, sending David Miller and Abdul Samad back in consecutive deliveries, putting himself on a hat-trick and causing panic in the LSG camp.
Though the hat-trick eluded him, the damage was already done, and the momentum firmly shifted towards Mumbai. His ability to mix yorkers, slower balls, and sharp bouncers kept the batters guessing and dried up the boundaries at a crucial phase of the innings. With LSG needing quick runs, Bumrah’s accuracy and control proved too much to handle. He delivered 14 dot balls in his spell, ensuring the required run rate climbed steadily out of reach.