IPL 2025: MI`s all-round show helps defeat LSG by 54 runs

When Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya and Lucknow Super Giants’s (LSG) Rishabh Pant came together for the toss at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday afternoon, both teams were on the same page, having five wins from nine games each. However, after the hosts defended their total of 215-7 to beat LSG convincingly by 54 runs, MI zoomed to the No. 2 spot in the table while the visitors were down to No. 6. 

Mayank, Avesh claim 2 each

MI were propelled to their massive total thanks mainly to opener Ryan Rickleton (32-ball 58, 6×4, 6×6) and Suryakumar Yadav (28-ball 54, 4×4, 4×6). LSG pacers, Mayank Yadav (2-40) and Avesh Khan (2-42) picked up two wickets each.

Ryan Rickelton en route his 58

In reply, Ayush Badoni (35) and Mitchell Marsh (34) got decent scores for LSG who were bowled out for 161. MI’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah (4-22), executed his role as Impact Player perfectly. En route he also became IPL’s leading wicket-taker overtaking former MI speedster Lasith Malinga’s 170 scalps. Fellow pacer Trent Boult (3-20) and offie Will Jacks (2-18) complemented Bumrah well. 

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MI’s Naman Dhir, who remained unbeaten scoring 11-ball 25, credited the top-order batsmen for the convincing win. “In the last five games, we are ticking [all] the boxes. We are winning the [crucial] moments and that has led us to these victories. And I guess we will continue doing that,” Dhir said at MI’s post-match press conference on Sunday. 

Pacer Jasprit Bumrah celebrates a LSG wicket

LSG skipper Rishabh Pant (four off two balls) was out early again but LSG mentor Zaheer Khan said it was not something they were worried about. “I wouldn’t relate it [Pant’s Rs 27 crore price tag] to anything like that [pressure]. It’s a team. He’s [Pant] a leader and he has been fantastic as a leader. That’s something which I can vouch for, the kind of effort he’s been taking to make sure that each and every individual in that group is comfortable, is heard. Also, with all the planning that goes, he has been spot on,” said Zaheer. 

Earlier, put in to bat in the 33 degrees celsius afternoon heat, MI opener Rickelton began brilliantly, picking 19 runs off the first two overs. 

LSG spinners struggle

Pant introduced spin early into the attack, bringing both leg-spinners Digvesh Rathi (1-48) and Ravi Bishnoi (1-41) into play (fourth and fifth over respectively). However, the strategy went against them as the hosts posted 66-1 at the end of the Powerplay. Rathi then went for a massive 19 runs off his second over. Suryakumar took over after Rickelton’s departure. The hard-hitting Indian batter reached his third half-century of the season in just 27 balls with a six off pacer Avesh Khan to emerge as IPL-18 leading run scorer with 427 runs to his credit from 10 games. 

Zaheer admitted that MI opener Rickelton and attacking batter Suryakumar took the game from them right at the start. He said: “Our [LSG] bowlers were being put under pressure. Rickelton really started off well. He put the bowlers under pressure, set that tone for the innings. And Surya, then doing what Surya does. It was always going to be a challenging game.”  

Brief scores
MI 215-7 in 20 overs (R Rickelton 58, S Yadav 54; M Yadav 2-40, A Khan 2-42) beat LSG 161 all out in 20 overs (A Badoni 35, M Marsh 34; J Bumrah 4-22, T Boult 3-20, W Jacks 2-18) by 54 runs