LSG vs GT Highlights IPL 2025: Pooran’s charge, Badoni’s calm takes LSG to a six-wicket win and end GT’s win streak

A match that turned out to be closer than we thought it might be after Pooran and Markram's knocks. But GT will really feel they left a few runs out in their locker after the superb start they got. Here's how the points. table looks now as GT slide down to 2nd due to the NRR drop.

Alright then, head over to SRH vs PBKS blog, that might be a run-fest in Hyderabad. 

Lalith Kalidas: That 24-run over against Nicholas Pooran and Aiden Markram is the most expensive over of Sai Kishore's T20 career. He's still got the best T20 economy rate (6.07*) among all Indian bowlers who have picked up at least 50 wickets.

Well, with a name that rhymes with one of the best finishers the game has seen (at his prime), BADONI clinches the win for LSG with a six over midwicket. Huge hit and the run-chase is complete with some huffing and puffing by LSG. Pooran's knock the highlight once again but a nice little hand from Badoni there at the end. And not Sai Kishore's day with the ball or GT's day on the field, sloppy often. 

19.2: FOUR! Ayush Badoni with a superb sweep shot that pierces the gap on the leg side. Banged into the surface a bit, but Badoni got underneath the bounce of that really well. Smart shot.

Sai Kishore, after being carted around by Pooran, comes on for his 2nd over. 

19.1: A single off the first ball. And ther is a brief break in play. For a ball change? No. Samad off strike.

A wicket and 3 runs in the 19th over and now we are heading into the 20th over the run-chase with somehow the match (somewhat) in balance. Didn't seem likely about 20 mins back when Pooran was smashing it all over. 

Sai Kishore to bowl the 20th. 6 to defend. 

You'd have to say, even with 10-15 more runs, LSG would have been in some trouble here. Washington gets one to keep a bit low from around the wicket, the ball goes with the arm and Miller is beaten by the low bounce. He is a bit miffled. And Buttler can breathe a sigh of relief. Miller bowled. Samad in. 7 off 8 needed. 

David Miller b Washington Sundar 7 (11 balls) 

Things were starting to get a little nervy there for LSG. (Could've been really something if Miller was dismissed in the previous over). A really good over from Rashid could have put the cat among pigeons... but Badoni plays a calmly lofted sweep off Rashid for a four. Just 9 needed off 12 now. 

Jos Buttler continues to have a pretty poor IPL from behind the stumps. This is really poor from the former England captain. David Miller is gone for all the money as he comes back for a 2nd run. The throw from Siraj from deep square leg is pretty good, Buttler gathers the ball, and by the time he brings it close the stumps, he loses control. Really poor glovework. Miller was well outside the crease despite a late dive. Has he dropped one off the next ball too? No replays for that yet. Siraj can't believe the run out miss still. A wicket here and it could have been a nervy finish for LSG. Not to be. Need 18 off 18 balls now. 

David Miller joins Ayush Badoni in the middle as the chase could now come to somewhat of a crawling end because LSG would want to avoid any funny business. 

Meamwhile, PBKS have opted to bat first in Hyderabad. Follow that match live here.

A 34-ball 61 is what Pooran manages tonight, but it is another match-winning knock by the LSG man at No 3 this season. Just a delight to watch. Rashid Khan has something to smile about as he takes one away from Pooran on the length, and the cross-swat is straight to the fielder at long on. Rashid and Pooran share a smile.

Nicholas Pooran c Shahrukh Khan b Rashid Khan 61 (34 balls)

Two singles and dot balls at the start of Washy's over. And what does Pooran do, smashes a massive six off the fifth ball. His SEVENTH SIX OF THE NIGHT to go with one four. Madness. Lucknow Super Giants need 27 runs in 30 balls

In all the carnage, Prasidh has bowled really well. 2/26 at the end of his four overs. Has managed to keep the marauding Pooran under check. The required rate meanwhile is bellow run-a-ball. 

MASSIVE!!! Cutter from Siraj, dug into the pitch, but it sits up nicely for Pooran who is seeing the cricket ball like a football at the moment. Soaring over square leg for a big six. Shane Watson is running out words on air, and he knows a thing or two about power-hitting. With that six, Pooran also takes back the Orange Cap from SaiSu. 

Pooran gets to a 23-ball half century with a square cut lofted over the offside field. This is just another ridiculous knock from him.

Ayush Badoni comes out to bat, expectedly as the Impact Sub in place of Digvesh Rathi. And that is a really good over from Prasidh, just two runs and a wicket. Worked up some nice pace, and nearly deceived Pooran with the lack of it. A slight handbrake on LSG's cruise. 

Prasidh's signature hard lengths doing the trick there as Markram's attempted lofted straight drive is caught on the absolute edge of the boundary lines by Gill. Good knock from the South African though who, despite being overshadowed somewhat by Poroan and Marsh, has been superb so far for LSG.

Aiden Markram c Shubman Gill b Prasidh Krishna 58 (31 balls)

In the blink of an eye, LSG have reduced this run-chase to a stroll. Just over run-a-ball required and LSG can look at NRR as well. Markram with a slap over mid off for four in that Siraj over. A half chance created at the end of the over as Pooran tried the pull at a short ball that rushed him a bit, but falls short of mid on. 

Sure, Markram reached a superb 26-ball half century in that over with a fine four down the ground. But boy, that over was all about Nicholas Pooran! THREE MASSIVE SIXES! And off Sai Kishore, who has been bowling so well. Sure, SLA vs LHB is a favorable matchup for him but boy the ball-striking. All three in the region between long on and midwicket. CRAZY GOOD.

Washington Sundar gets a bowl and Pooran smashes him down the ground for another six! The over had started with a four for Markram. This is perhaps the partnership GT would be desperate to break. Sure there is Miller to come, but these two can take the game away in no time. 

Pooran smashes one down the ground, Rashid puts his left arm up instinctively, and it bursts through. That's gotta hurt, it can't be a dropped catch. Rashid gets some taping around his left index finger. What would have perhaps hurt more is a six down the ground, so smoothly hit by the six-machine that is Pooran. 

After that first-ball four, Prasidh comes back really nicely in that over. 

And here is Nicky P, the best batter of the tournament so far. GT will really need that wicket. 

Just when you thought Rishabh Pant was starting to get a grip of the conditions – evidenced by a well-placed pull past midwicket for four – he falls to a slower one dug into the pitch by Prasidh Krishna. Goes for a big hoick but no real balance to his shot there and ends up top edging it to Washy at deep third. Got to say, that goes down as another below average knock from Pant. 

Rishabh Pant c Washington Sundar b Prasidh Krishna 21 (18 balls)

Pant, after being frustrated by a couple of mishits in that Rashid over, connects well with a slog sweep and gets another boundary. Still no real control but he has kept his wicket in tact while Markram has been going great guns. A brilliant cut shot for four by the latter in that over. 

Both teams finished their powerplays without losing a wicket and scoring nearly 10 an over each. A penny for CSK's thoughts.

That dropped catch by Arshad went for four but the Prasidh over had started with a brilliant hit from Markram for a six, lovely batswing there from the South African. 12-run over, as Markram's attacking intent has made up for Pant's lack of fluency. 

That will also go down as a dropped chance, for sure. Markram plays the upper cut but doesn't get enough bat on it, and Arshad Khan at short third really should have done better over his right shoulder. Poor effort there, no excuses. And Shubman Gill is super angry at it. Next ball, Markram cuts one powerfully past cover and this time SaiSu puts in a superb dive to his left but can't hold on. That's a really toughie. 

The first real convincing shot of the innings so far from Rishabh Pant. Width on offer from Arshad and Rishabh slashes, slashes hard. Educated top edge, you could say. Got underneath it nicely. Flies over the short-third fielder for four. Markram too helped himself to a four at the start of the over, behind square on the off side. 

UltraEdge at the start of the next over shows Pant did get a healthy edge on it as Buttler missed it down the leg side. It was flying past him to be honest and it wasn't a great ball from Siraj. But it does go down as a dropped chance. 

Siraj has been terrific in the powerplay over the last few matches for GT, but Markram is giving him the charge here. A slightly miscued heave past mid on is followed by a stunning off drive on the up for two fours in that over. Siraj then tries an intimidating bouncer to Siraj but the ball just flies over Pant's head and Buttler's gloves for FIVE WIDES. Nearly a chance next ball! Pant goes for one of those typically mad sweep shots, falling over as he paddled it. Buttler can't catch it, was close. Is it a dropped catch last ball also? Siraj is not happy as Pant glances another one down the leg side, Buttler dives and stops but can't catch it. Was that off the bat? 

20 runs in that over! Would it go down as one with two missed chances too? 

As he has throughout this season so far, Pant is not really timing the ball well. Just 2 singles in that Arshad over as Pant plays out four dot balls. There is no fluency. 

Rishabh Pant gets hit on the pad off a straight one from Arshad Khan, the left-arm pacer operating with that inward angle to the leftie batter. The physio is out and Pant is needing quite a bit of attention. 

Rishabh Pant's stay in the middle could have been cut short in the first over! A massive mixup, as he tapped the ball to square leg and took off but stopped. Markram ran through and then Pant completed the single as there was a fumble. Markram finishes the over with a lovely punch through offside for four. 

IMPACT SUB ALERT: Not a surprise, Prasidh Krishna replaces Sherfane Rutherford.

SURPRISE ALERT: Rishabh Pant has come out to open the batting with Aiden Markram! Pant opens in place of Mitch Marsh. We are told the last time he opened was for Delhi Daredevils in 2016. 

After 12 overs: 120/0

After 20 overs: 180/6

Just 60 runs conceded in the last 8 overs by LSG as they fight back brilliantly. 

Shardul's last over began with a six for Shahrukh but the pacer fights back well, to finish on 2/34.

He is on a hat-trick now, is Lord Shardul! It is yet another wicket off a full toss for him, just as it was against Rahane and DreRuss against KKR the other night. There is a late delay as Tewatia is made to wait for a 3rd umpire check on high full toss. But that looked really OK in real-time, so this is just a matter of protocol. Fair delivery, confirmed. 

Rahul Tewatia c Aiden Markram b Shardul Thakur 0 (1 ball)

That's a fine bluff from Shardul Thakur. He had been at it with the wide yorkers to Rutherford.... until he wasn't. Goes full and straight this time, as Rutherford moved across the stumps. And the ball hits Rutherford plumb in front on the full. 

Sherfane Rutherford lbw b Shardul Thakur 22 (19 balls)

LSG can have only four players outside the circle here, fielding penalty for not completing the overs on time. 

Shardul Thakur to bowl. Shahrukh Khan on strike. Leg side heavy field, bowling to the longer side. 

Rutherford finally gets some momentum, a four past short fine leg and then a four past short third with two well-executed shots at the start of Avesh Khan's 19th over. But Avesh comes back superbly with four fuller length balls, to his field. And just four singles to close that over. Can GT reach 180+? They are 11 short of 180 at the moment. Last over coming up. 

We already saw this earlier in the tournament, when Vyshak Vijaykumar – PBKS' impact sub – completely shut Rutherford down by bowling the angled deliveries well wide of offstump at a yorker length and Shardul doing just that here. A couple of wides in that over (but not 5 consecutive like the other night) and he keeps the left-right duo of Rutherford and Shahrukh quiet... until there is a long delay for a wide review that goes in favour of Rutherford. It is followed by a loose ball from Thakur that is put away on the leg side for four. 

Rutherford survives but not Buttler! Digvesh does have his well-deserved wicket. After a reverse sweep for four, Buttler goes for the conventional sweep and gets a top edge. Shardul this time at short fine, runs to his left and takes a fine, fine running catch. Digvesh brings out the notebook signing celebration again, but once more he does into the turf, so should be fine.

Jos Buttler c Shardul Thakur b Digvesh Rathi 16 (14 balls)

Rishabh Pant trying to do too much there. Rutherford just hits this pull high into the sky and it is heading straight to the fielder at short fine. But Pant throws his helmet off and calls for the catch, runs towards it, can't hold on as he puts in a late dive. Misjudgment from the captain there. Second dropped catch off Digvesh's bowling today. 

Will GT be reassessing their target now? There were signs even during that Gill-SaiSu partnership that the pitch had just a little bit of assistance for the slower bowlers / balls. So this slowdown might not be the worst news for GT. But they do have some firepower left to try and push past 180 at least. They need a Pooran cushion. Bishnoi bounces back really nicely after an expensive start, finishes with a 4-run over. Buttler and Rutherford steadying things but have to go big now you imagine. 

Oh that would have been a big blow for GT! Buttler goes for a quick single and a diving left-handed throw from Himmat Singh evades the stumps. A direct hit and the former England captain could have been in trouble. He does get going in that Avesh over with a glance for four. GT are hugely dependent on Buttler from here. 

Has the tide changed in this match definitively? Bishnoi with two wickets in over! What a turnaround. Washington, coming in ahead of Rutherford, has chopped one on to the stumps. Tame dismissal really but Bishnoi is pumped up and LSG are right back in this match! 

Washington Sundar b Ravi Bishnoi 2 (3 balls)

SaiSu gone! The timeout results in a wicket immediately. Bishnoi has had something of a nightmare so far, but he strikes in the first ball of a new over. Sai Sudharsan mistimes a lofted cover drive and Pooran makes no mistake at extra cover. LSG making a brilliant comeback. The two wickets will slow the scoring down. 

Sai Sudharsan c Nicholas Pooran b Ravi Bishnoi 56 (37 balls)

They are clearly a much better batting side than bowling. But they can still do a decent job in the last part of this innings to keep GT to around 200, which won't be too bad. Timeout. 

The wicket ball was 122 kph from Avesh. With Buttler typically taking some time to get going, LSG can pull things back there. For all the good work of the opening stand, GT might just be a little wary of the target they are going to set. The run-rate has dipped below 10 now, with Avesh bowling a 2-run over. 

Gill has the right idea here, GT probably have to push on the pedal a bit more than 10 an over, and he goes down the ground off Avesh Khan. Seemed to have hit it quite well but not to be, Markram does a final balancing act to take a superb catch on the edge of the boundary rope. Change of pace perhaps doing the trick. LSG would be hoping to put on the handbrakes now. 

Shubman Gill c Aiden Markram b Avesh Khan 60 (38 balls)

A couple of frustrating dot balls for Sai Sudharsan in that over, completely beaten by the change of pace from Akash Deep. But he finishes that over with a lofted on drive for four. In the slot, smashed down the ground. Earlier in the over, Gill too hit a four. 

Sai Sudharsan's lowest score this season is 5... followed by 49. That is how consistent he has been this season. 

OH, THAT'S A BIG MISS. Sai Sudharsan sees a short ball from Digvesh, picks it up early enough, smashes a cut but it is straight to Samad at cover. And Samad drops it! That is a sitter by any description. Reprieve for SaiSu who has lost his touch a little bit in the last couple of overs... but gets to the half century later in the over with a sweep for four. Digvesh can't be happy with that! He had the wicket there. 

As Shane Watson mentions on air, that is probably the first real false shot we have seen from either batter today so far and we are in the 10th over. Bishnoi, bowling diagonally, induces the top edge as SaiSu goes for a slog sweep. But the ball lands in the middle of nowhere and it is more frustration for Bishnoi, who has gone for another expensive over. The 100-run opening stand comes up, the first of this season for any team. A superb four for SaiSu earlier in the over and then a steal of a double off the last ball. Bishnoi's struggles continue. 

A second half century of the season for Shubman Gill, and this one comes off 31 balls for the GT captain. He has looked largely in control today, using his feet so well on a pitch that might be stopping a bit. He has identified the areas to target quite smartly and this is a strong foundation for GT. But a good over from Digvesh though, just 7 off it. 

Aiden Markram comes on to bowl... and GT see this as an opportunity to attack. Smart cricket has been at the heart of GT's good run. And there is another example. Gill takes on Markram in the favorable matchup, a boundary past long on and then a six over long on. That six was all class as he danced down the track. 

So LSG clearly reviewed for caught behind after it was called wide. It wasn't out caught behind, but the umpire did have to change the wide decision as pad was involved. So it seems LSG keep their review as per the broadcast.

Bishnoi hasn't had the greatest IPL seasons so far and he has a wry smile on his face as one of his rare regular leggie deliveries is superbly cut away late by Gill past two fielders behind square on the offside. Superb touch from the GT captain. SaiSu then adds another boundary in that over with a pull shot put away for four. Short ball, punished. There is a big appeal for caught behind off the last ball as Sudharsan attempts a sweep. It was given a wide by the umpire. LSG review... presumably for the caught behind, but the ball hit the pad. So it is NOT OUT, but we guess LSG don't lose their review either? We will await confirmation on that. 

Meanwhile, time for a timeout. 

Avesh Khan into the attack to close out the powerplay. Oh that's a wonderful shot from SaiSu first up! Wayward from Avesh, short and at the left-hander's hips, and he picks up it nonchalantly and deposits it over the long leg boundary. 63m six, good awareness of the boundary dimensions there. Just sheer timing. Avesh takes the pace off as Gill dances down the track off the last ball of the powerplay, and it is just a single. GT will be happy with their typical platform, but LSG haven't let things get away too much either. In the balance. 

End of powerplay, GT are 54/0. 

Shubman special, as he again plays a gorgeous stroke through the offside to start Akash Deep's over for four. Already, the LSG pacers are resorting to change of pace. Not much assistance off the pitch in terms of seam movement. And signs that the cutters might be the way to go, as one dies on Gill. 

It was turning into another fine over from Digvesh Rathi, keeping things quiet. But SaiSu's square drive squirms underneath the otherwise excellent David Miller and goes for four. That's a sloppy effort from the South African and he knows it. A four to end that over. 

Was shaping into a really good over from Shardul, just a couple of singles to start the over, then a couple of dot balls. Then a real loose delivery from Shardul, short and wide of off stump, and Gill cuts with one hand for gift of a four. Shardul finishes the over well with a single. All said and done, good start by the pacer.