Even a record-breaking purchase may not be convincing enough for Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to succeed in a successful IPL season. LSG boss Sanjiv Goenka was high on confidence when he cashed in a whopping amount of Rs 27 crore for Rishabh Pant.

Social media was buzzing after the IPL 2025 mega auction. LSG, on pen and paper, is still looking solid, but their performance on the field is telling a completely different story— a flop for Rishabh Pant and his team, the Lucknow Super Giants. Since the last season, Sanjiv Goenka has remained as one of the central figures whenever LSG was on the field. In IPL 2024, the one-field moment between Goenka and then their captain, KL Rahul, was captured through lenses, and the LSG owner became a talking point among cricket fans. 

Read More: IPL 2025: DC vs KKR Match 48 - Arun Jaitley stadium stats and preview

Pant replaces Rahul of the ongoing season, but LSG's fate is yet to be proven. Cricket fans and critics have speculated about Goenka's possible influence on his team. Amit Mishra has recently disclosed something shocking about Sanjeev.  In a recent conversation, Mishra said, "Perhaps every team has someone who can be influential; it can be a coach, it can be a captain. But from my point of view, the matter is different for Lucknow Super Giants."

See what Mishra said on camera

Former LSG player Amit Mishra shares his views on Lucknow Super Giants' management and owner Sanjiv Goenka. pic.twitter.com/4LkcMxRWgz

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 28, 2025

Amit Mishra expressed his opinion about Sanjeev Goenka

Mishra had played for Super Giants before, during IPL 2024 and IPL 2023. So, he is well aware of the dressing atmosphere of the Lucknow Super Giants. Mishra has claimed that the image of Goenka has been created by the media, is not true. 

In a straightforward response, the Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer said, "Last year I heard that KL Rahul himself set the team. This year, we saw Rishabh Pant and Zaheer Khan exchange words outside the field during the match. Even their coach was also involved in open conversation. Through multiple media reports, we may have created a character of Sanjiv Goenka, which I feel is not true. From my experience I can confirm he never influenced his team or asked anything to be done by force."

In the match played between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants in 45 match of IPL 2025, Hardik Pandya's platoon has won by 54 runs. With this, Mumbai has now reached the second position in the points table. This is Lucknow's fifth defeat this season. With which it now seems very difficult for Rishabh Pant's team to reach the playoffs. Let's take a look at today's match. 

In the match, Mumbai Indians batted first and scored 215 runs in 20 overs. This included 58 runs from opener Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav's quick 54 runs. Apart from these two, Will Jacks 29 and Naman Dheer also played quick 25 runs. Due to which Mumbai's score crossed 200. In response, Lucknow's innings was limited to 161 runs. Ayush Badoni scored the highest 35 runs for Lucknow. While in Mumbai's bowling, Bolt took 3 and Bumrah took 4 wickets. These two bowlers of Mumbai had wrapped up more than half of Lucknow's innings. In this way Mumbai has won the match by 54 runs.

 The journey of both the teams in this season

Now let's take a look at the performance of Mumbai and Lucknow in the current IPL season. In which such a performance is no less than a miracle for Mumbai. Because it won only 1 match out of its first 5 matches. After which it was believed that this season too the Mumbai franchise would not be able to reach the playoffs. But now this team is at second place in the points table with 6 wins and 4 losses in 10 matches. 

On the other hand, the current IPL season has been full of ups and downs for Lucknow. The team loses one match and wins the other. Lucknow has currently played 10 matches in this season. In these, the team has won 5 matches while it has faced defeat in 5 matches. This is the reason why Rishabh Pant's team is currently at sixth position in the points table.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025, Match 45: Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants Full Match Highlights

Twitter reactions after MI wins 45th match of IPL 2025

A familiar trend is unfolding yet again 👀

MI beat LSG by 54 runs to jump up to second in the table for the time-being 🔥#IPL2025 #mivslsg pic.twitter.com/QTLiib52kr

— Troll ஜோக்கர் CSgay™❁ (@Troll_CSgay) April 27, 2025

@mipaltan back to back 5 Wins

MI Now Top 2 in Table #Mumbaiindians #LSGvsMI #MIvsLSG pic.twitter.com/Su58C3p1au

— 93SwING KING 🇮🇳 45 (@NithinMNK1) April 27, 2025

MI won 5 Consecutive matchessss yeahhh 🥵😭😭🔥🔥💥💥❤️‍🔥💙#MIvsLSG #IPL2025 #MumbaiIndians pic.twitter.com/41U6hC1Yd5

— Sparkle ✨💜 (@PositiveMattume) April 27, 2025

Ladies and Gentlemen!
Take a moment to laugh at the greatest joker that existed in the history of Cricket.

THE GREAT DIGVESH#LSGvsMI pic.twitter.com/Q2oXpCYM64

— Sunny (@SocioEducate) April 27, 2025

#MIvsLSG

Mi on a generational run 🔥🙏
Another ez win 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rBujgXs2y6

— Zorojuro (@Zorojuro_1062) April 27, 2025

hitman 😭😭😭😭😭😭

Back to Back 6 AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA#MIvsLSG pic.twitter.com/QQplXT6Rmt

— Dentist in Distress 🏏🏑🌻🥌🦷🏥 🪥🐶 (@grinchofholi) April 27, 2025

Congratulations @mipaltan for a big win 👏#LSGvMI pic.twitter.com/p5EMbTMo3q https://t.co/UR5I03BQJW

— 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒊𝑩𝒂𝒃𝒖 🚩 (@AlwaysRRRam) April 27, 2025

Fine lage toh lage par nawabi ma ghate😎#MIvsLSG pic.twitter.com/VCdzkhairK

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) April 27, 2025

What a comeback boys, 5th win in a row @mipaltan 💙✨#MIvsLSG pic.twitter.com/by56olp9gD

— Deepthi 🦋 (@deepthi_deeps13) April 27, 2025

In a thrilling encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 54 runs in IPL 2025 Match 42. After setting a challenging total of 215/7, MI’s bowlers restricted LSG to just 161 all out, securing a comprehensive victory. Let’s delve into the key reasons behind Lucknow’s defeat.

LSG’s chase was derailed by inconsistent batting, early wickets, and MI’s relentless bowling attack, led by Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance. MI batters also laid a platform, supported by Ryan Rickelton's 58 runs off 32 balls and Suryakumar Yadav's 54 runs off 28 balls; near the end, contributions from Naman Dhir and Corbin Bosch would ensure an excellent total that put MI's hat to victory in a great match.

1. Inconsistent Batting Performance

Lucknow Super Giants’ batting collapse was a pivotal reason for being defeated. Although Ayush Badoni (35 off 24) and Mitchell Marsh (34 off 22) put up some resistance, the others did not build on it. Important players, including Nicholas Pooran (15 off 12) and Rishabh Pant (22 off 18), faltered under pressure and could not build substantial innings. LSG regularly fell victim to wickets that curtailed momentum, resulted in wastage while trying to build partnerships, and prevented them from reaching 216 by 18 runs despite a reasonable start, as there must have been some level of batting confidence before they were dismissed.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 45: Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants Full Match Highlights

2. Mumbai Indians’ Dominant Bowling Attack

Mumbai Indians’ bowling unit decimated LSG’s batting unit, led by Jasprit Bumrah’s phenomenal 4/22. On a dime, Bumrah’s blistering pace and yorkers accounted for openers Aiden Markram and Marsh early. He then broke LSG’s backbone by snapping up Pooran in the middle overs. Trent Boult followed Bumrah with a fiery 3/20, targeting the lower order, and Will Jacks provided a 2-wicket contribution, including taking out Pant at a key juncture. MI's bowlers maintained relentless, Hamburg-strength pressure, making it hard for LSG to build acceleration towards their target.

3. Lack of Discipline in Bowling

The bowling unit for LSG was no match for the explosive batting unit of the Mumbai Indians. While Mayank Yadav (2/40) and Avesh Khan (2/42) were able to pick up wickets, they undoubtedly failed to put the brakes on the scoring, particularly against openers Ryan Rickelton (58 off 32) and Suryakumar Yadav (54 off 28). MI’s middle-order hitters, Naman Dhir and Corbin Bosch (contributions of 20 and 35 runs, respectively), inflated the MI total to 215/7 as 60 runs were also cut in the last 4 overs. The LSG bowlers showed a lack of discipline in their lines and lengths, ultimately giving MI a total that would prove too steep to chase down on the Wankhede pitch.

In a thrilling encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on April 27, 2025, Mumbai Indians (MI) showcased their dominance by securing a commanding 54-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 45 of the IPL 2025 season.

Mumbai Indians Innings

Mumbai Indians set an imposing target of 215/7 in 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat first. The MI innings was built on a blistering 94-run opening stand between Ryan Rickelton (58 off 32) and Suryakumar Yadav (54 off 28), who put the Lucknow bowlers under extreme pressure. Will Jacks added 29 from 21 balls, and in the end Naman Dhir (18 off 10) and Corbin Bosch (15* off 8) finished strongly, as MI posted well over 200. The Lucknow bowling attack of Mayank Yadav (2/40) and Avesh Khan (2/42) had no answers to contain the MI middle order, and even with Ravi Bishnoi (1/41) claiming Suryakumar's wicket, MI made runs freely. 

Lucknow Super Giants Innings

In reply, Lucknow Super Giants were bowled out for 161, losing by 54 runs. Ayush Badoni (35 off 22) and Mitchell Marsh (34 off 24) fought back briefly, but the Lucknow batters were never able to seize the momentum. Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with 4/22, and Trent Boult (3/20) and Will Jacks (2/18) were good support. MI attacked the Super Giants, while the Lucknow batting never found their rhythm in their run chase, to help MI to a comfortable win.

Also Read: Top 3 reasons why Lucknow Super Giants Lost to Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 Match 45

MI vs LSG: Post Match Reactions

Will Jacks (Player of the Match): Jacks credited his bowling for the success of the team as he matched up well with the unknown left, like Pooran. He acknowledged the hard work he has put into his bowling, and although it is part-time, he is still enjoying playing for Mumbai Indians. He also mentioned Bumrah's skill and leadership.

Hardik Pandya (MI Captain): Pandya talked about the momentum of the team and how everyone contributed. He explained how it is important that when a player is needed for a performance, everyone pulls together, and he said for them they need to focus on playing good cricket and not getting ahead of themselves.

Corbin Bosch (MI): Bosch played instead of Mitch and was thankful for the opportunity and also said it was special because it was his brother's birthday.   He said he was also grateful for his teammates for supporting him and was excited to contribute where he could.

Rishabh Pant (LSG Captain): Pant spoke about how their plan was to back their batting and commented on the quality of the performance from Mumbai.  He said it is important to keep positive and that Mayank Yadav's return was a positive for the team.

Also Read: T20 Mumbai League 2025: Squads, Captain and Everything you need to know

Mumbai Indians vs Lucknow Super Giants: Match Scorecard

Mumbai Indians—215/7 (20 Overs)

Lucknow Super Giants – 161/10 (20 Overs)

With the race for the playoffs on the line, Mumbai Indians(MI) will take on Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 45 of IPL 2025. Currently, MI sits in the fifth spot in the points table and has won five wins from nine matches, while also in sixth, having five wins from nine games they have played so far in the tournament. Although the teams are even on points MI currently has a better net run rate.

In the last encounter when both these teams clashed,  they edged a thrilling victory on the road thanks to Mitchell Marsh and  Aiden Markram's brilliance at LSG's home stadium.  As two of the favorites for the title, this high-stakes clash will demand sharp strategies and bold decisions from both sides, with each aiming to edge closer to their IPL  trophy.

Impact Players: Mumbai Indians (MI)

Corbin Bosch: Did well for MI Cape Town in SA20 and can be brought in during the second innings if the pitch helps fast bowlers. He has taken five wickets in his last three T20 games.

Raj Bawa: A batting all-rounder with 308 runs and 22 wickets in 20 games, adding balance to the team.

Rohit Sharma: An experienced batter, he can play an important role when the team needs him in crucial times. In tough times, he can handle pressure. The last time he played against SRH, he scored 70 runs in 46 balls

Mujeeb Ur Rahman: A smart Afghanistan spinner who can be a good substitute in the second innings if the pitch favors spinners.

Karn Sharma: A smart spinner who can be a good substitute in the second innings if the pitch favors spinners. Last match against DC he took 3 wickets in 4 overs economy of 9.00.

Vignesh Puthur: A talented left-arm orthodox Spinner. In the last match against CSK, he took 1 wicket in 1 over economy of 10.00.

ALSO READ: Kuwait T10 Challengers League 2025: Complete Schedule, Results, and Key Players to Watch

Impact Players: Lucknow Super Giants (LSG)

Mitchell Marsh: A promising all-rounder who can come in if LSG loses early wickets in the first innings. Last time he played against LSG, he scored 45 in 36 balls.

Prince Yadav: A bowling all-rounder with 11 wickets in 8 T20 matches. He can be useful for a strong finish in the first innings or as an extra bowling option in the second. In the last match against LSG, he bowled 2.3 overs, conceding 23 runs with 0 wickets.

Matthew Breetzke: In great form after a strong SA20 season with Durban Super Giants, he can be a handy overseas batting option in the second innings if needed.

Abdul Samad: A powerful hitter who did well for SRH last season. His powerful hitting helps in the second innings if the batting conditions are good. Last time he played against LSG, he scored 2 runs in 8 balls.

Ayush Badoni:  A powerful hitter who did well for LSG last season. His powerful hitting helps in the second innings if the batting conditions are good. Last time he played against LSG, he scored 36 runs in 21 balls.

Match 45 of the IPL 2025 between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be played on April 27, 2023, at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Below is a discussion about their head-to-head record, players to watch, and memorable matches to prepare for this IPL 2025 matchup.

LSG has had a stranglehold on the competition in recent history. This includes winning matches in both Lucknow and Wankhede. MI has beaten LSG only in the 2023 Eliminator, at Chepauk. Wankhede’s pitch undoubtedly will benefit MI’s aggressive batting lineup, while LSG has usually found a balanced strategy with their bowling lineup, which has matched MI’s batting lineup effectively. MI’s pacers generally like home conditions and playing under lights, while LSG has proven to be suitable in any location they’ve played in. Therefore, these two teams will beat each other again to put us all in an equally interesting contest.

Also Read: IPL 2025: MI vs LSG Match 45 - Wankhede stadium stats and preview

The Best MI vs LSG Matches

The rivalry between MI and LSG produced some entertaining matches, filled with individual brilliance, close matches, and tactical matchups. Here are some matches worth remembering:
 
IPL 2025, Match 16 (April 4, 2025) – Lucknow  

• LSG Score: 203/8 (20 overs)  
• MI Score: 191/5 (20 overs)  
• Result: LSG won by 12 runs  

LSG scored 203/8, with both Mitchell Marsh (60 off 31) and Aiden Markram (53 off 38) scoring half-centuries. MI’s Hardik Pandya had a career-best 5/36. MI’s chase was solid, with Suryakumar Yadav scoring an impressive 67 off 43 balls and Naman Dhir chipping in with 46 runs. MI batters were constantly challenged by LSG's bowlers, particularly Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan. It was Digvesh Rathi’s economical 1/21 that earned him the Player of the Match award. All in all, this match represented yet another competitive win for MI and the development of an MI signature with strong death bowling—an essential element of the ongoing rivalry. 
 
IPL 2024, Match 48 (April 30, 2024) – Lucknow  

• MI Score: 144/7 (20 overs)  
• LSG Score: 145/6 (19.2 overs)  
• Result: LSG won by 4 wickets  

MI struggled to score just 144/7, and Nehal Wadhera was MI’s only consistent run scorer with a total of just 46 runs from 41 balls. LSG produced a bold chase led by Marcus Stoinis as Player of the Match with 62 runs from 45 balls. MI managed to get 2 wickets from Hardik Pandya with 2/26 runs, with MI players putting pressure on LSG as MI bowlers produced reasonable scores. MI only fell into trouble with runs coming from Mohsin Khan returning 2 runs for every 36 runs. LSG was a disciplined bowling unit that limited MI's output with a brilliant chase for lower scores in home configurations.

Also Read: "Top 3 Auction blunders that led to CSK's struggles in IPL 2025"

IPL 2023, Eliminator (May 24, 2023)—Chennai 

• MI Score: 182/8 (20 overs) 
• LSG Score: 101 (16.3 overs)
• Result: MI won by 81 runs

MI scored 182/8, with Cameron Green scoring 41 runs from 23 balls. LSG was bowled out for 101, with Akash Madhwal getting 5 wickets and only conceding 5 runs. Madhwal was the Player of the Match for his match-defining spell. This remains MI's only victory against LSG, with an exclamation mark that MI are able to capitalize on key moments occurring in knockout matches.

The IPL 2025 season is about to heat up. At Match 45, the Mumbai Indians (MI) will take on the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on April 27, 2025, at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. The match will begin at 3:30 PM IST. MI captain Hardik Pandya will lead his team against LSG captain Rishabh Pant in a massive match for both teams trying to scoop up necessary points in their playoff quest.

Wankhede Stadium Stats and Records

• Total Matches: 122
• Batting 1st Won: 55
• Batting 2nd Won: 67
• No Result: 0
• Highest Total: 235/1 by Royal Challengers Bangalore vs Mumbai Indians in 2015
• Lowest Total: 67 all out by Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians in 2008
• Highest Run-chase: 214/4 by Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals in 2023
• Lowest Total Defended: 118/9 by Mumbai Indians vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018
• Average 1st Innings Score: 171
• Average 2nd Innings Score: 158

Also Read: IPL 2025: MI vs LSG Match 45 - A Head to Head breakdown

Weather & Pitch Report

The weather forecast indicates that the weather will be warm and humid in Mumbai on April 27, 2025, with temperatures ranging from 31 to 37 degrees Celsius and the humidity around 50-65% during the evening. The pitch at Wankhede Stadium is known to provide a batting-friendly surface, flat pitches, short boundaries, and a quick outfield to enable a high-scoring match. Throughout the match, the pitch may offer some assistance to pacers early on with the new ball, while spinners are likely to find some grip as the game wears into the later stages of the match. Dew will also play a major role in the second innings; exactly how much is left to see, but generally favoring the chase.

MI vs LSG: Match Preview

The Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya, will be hoping that their solid start at home at Wankhede can help them build some positive momentum. The Wankhede is a unique venue with passionate crowds and familiar conditions that can not only help the players but will also be a boost to the success of the franchise. MI boasts one of the best batting lineups, featuring Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya. Rohit is possibly a Wankhede legend because he creates electric starts and provides experience to go along with it. Similarly, Tilak Varma can give MI the same combination of consistency and speed in their middle order. While young and promising players like Naman Dhir also surfaced in the batting lineup. MI also has a bowling unit that can create its own dominance with the return of Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah has proven for many years that he can dominate the death overs and stop any partnership that can help MI achieve their desired outcome. Supported by Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, and spinners like Mitchell Santner, MI’s attack is well-rounded. After a shaky start to IPL 2025 with only one win in four matches, including a 12-run loss to LSG in Match 16, MI are under pressure to regain momentum.

Also Read: Sourav Ganguly breaks silence on India Pakistan cricketing ties after Pahalgam attack

The Lucknow Super Giants, who have Rishabh Pant as their captain, will feel confident going into their second meeting against the Mumbai Indians, as they won by 12 runs earlier this season on April 4, 2025, at Ekana Stadium. The top three batsmen for LSG are Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran. Pooran has had a tremendous season so far, On the other hand, Pant has had a slow start to the season, scoring only 17 runs prior to Match 16 in three matches. LSG’s bowling has produced good results, as it was once viewed like it was going to be a strength for the franchise since it was viewed as a weakness in the past. Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan have pitched in along with many other bowlers, such as Akash Deep and economical Digvesh Singh Rathi, as well as Ravi Bishnoi, who is the only spinner in the franchise.

A revamped Mumbai Indians (MI) with a 4-match winning streak is preparing for their next clash against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), which is set to be held tomorrow (April 27) at Wankhede Stadium from 3:30 PM. Ahead of the match, Rohit Sharma was spotted giving batting tips to Abdul Samad during a practice session. Lucknow Super Giants shared a video of the moment from their official social media account. 

After an initial turbulent phase in the ongoing IPL 2025, Mumbai Indians are back on with a bang at the right moment. They are now one of the contenders to make sure of a play-off spot. The five-time IP side is currently lying in the fifth spot of the points table with 10 points in 9 matches. On the other hand, Lucknow Super Giants, at the 6th spot, also have 10 points in 9 games. The upcoming encounter is crucial for both franchises. LSG will look to get back on the winning track by defeating the Mumbai Indians, and MI will try to solidify their undefeated run. 

Rohit Sharma, one of the most successful and lovable skippers of Team India in recent times, is the role model of many young stars; LSG's Abdul Samad is one of them. And Rohit knows the value of nurturing a budding talent. The former MI skipper didn't hesitate to interact with possible future stars.

Read More: Bowlers with best economy in death overs in IPL 2025 (min 7 overs)

Rohit advised how to bat at initial stage 

In the video, shared by LSG, we can see Sharma teaching Samad how to bat on different surfaces. Rohit advised the J&K all-rounder to first understand the pitch and then do the needful. 

Watch the video here:

Keeping it 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 & 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 💯 pic.twitter.com/7EdizTC1EF

— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 25, 2025

According to Rohit, understanding the weather conditions and nature of the pitch is necessary at the initial phase. He asked to observe how the ball is behaving on the pitch and then play a natural game, as every cricketer has his own technique and skill set. 

The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) paid ₹27 crore for Rishabh Pant in the IPL 2025 auction; now that has generated some serious debate. Pant's pedigree as a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter is an established reputation - but how much kick would LSG get for that sort of money for his showing so far this season?

Pant Batting Performance and Stats

In 9 matches, Pant has accumulated 106 runs at an average of 13.25 and a strike rate of 96.36 from 110 balls! For a player of his ability and value, this is pretty pathetic. He's probably getting out for low scores far too often, and with a highest score probably below 50 (clearly, he has no 100 or 50). From a T20 perspective, a strike rate of under 100 is pitiful and indicates that he is not aggressive enough when it really matters. This is a million miles away from his IPL 2018 best (684 runs, 52.61 average, 170+ strike rate). Personally, I believe it is a period of rustiness after a long absence from the game or adjusting to LSG's setup from a batting perspective. Regardless, the output is certainly not reflective of the value for money spent thus far (if it continues).

Cost-Per-Run Analysis: Based on the ₹27 crore price tag for 106 runs overall, the cost per run is mind-boggling. It sounds outlandish, but the formula for calculation would be to divide the price by runs: ₹27,00,00,000 ÷ 106 = ₹25,47,169 per run on average, which is complete madness. This is unfathomable when LSG has retained players in the auction, such as Nicholas Pooran (₹21 crore), who have produced significantly higher run totals historically, making Pant's current par performance a huge gamble financially.

Also Read: Cricket fraternity unites to slam Pahalgam attack—Powerful stand against terror

Pant Captaincy Assessment

Pant’s captaincy has been described as “okayish,” with the LSG's bowlers Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, and Shardul Thakur being the ones who won the matches. With injuries to fast bowlers Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan restricting resources, LSG managed to win matches, including a nail-biter of a finish with a win over Rajasthan Royals by 2 runs with a fantastic bowling performance from Avesh Khan of 3/37. The strategic thinking was hit and miss with match and bowler strategies as well as other rotations of bowlers that receive criticism for unclear thinking. The captaincy style has been proactive using communication; however, the style has not translated into team or individual performance, as noted in the mid-table position of LSG. While he could have learned key parts of captaincy during his time as captain of Delhi Capitals, the contributions from the bowler have been far stronger than the leadership elements from Pant. 

In the first game against Delhi Capital, LSG scored 209 in a loss by one wicket, where Pant put too much faith in Ravi Bishnoi, who conceded 17 runs in the 18th over. Against DC, once again batting at No. 7, Pant was out for a duck and was criticized by Anil Kumble and Mark Boucher - the use of bowler resources was glaringly absent. After losing fast bowlers Mayank Yadav and Mohsin Khan, LSG was fighting with game resources to use Avesh Khan and succumbed to using Ravi Bishnoi, who took 7 wickets alone in T20 existence, and Shardul Thakur, who is able to cover for mistakes by Pant (using overs of Shardul). The utilization of Bishnoi spin and Thakur death bowling has played a big role​, masking Pant’s occasional lapses.

Also Read: IPL 2025: RCB vs RR Match 42—Chinnaswamy stadium stats and preview

Was It a Blunder?

With Pant's overall 106 runs at exorbitant costs-per-run value and as a not very effective captain, it begs the question whether LSG have effectively wasted ₹27 crore on a player who is 'passing' as a player. There is potential for a significantly better return on investment based on Pant's previous records, but only if he returns to playing at his previous level. LSG’s gamble hinges on Pant rediscovering his explosive batting to justify the price tag.

The 40th match of IPL 2025 was played between Lucknow Super Giants and Delhi Capitals at Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. In this match, Delhi Capitals defeated Lucknow Supergiants by 8 wickets and achieved their sixth win of the season. Lucknow had set a target of 160 runs in front of Delhi Capitals. In response, Delhi Capitals achieved the target at the loss of two wickets.

Talking about this match, Lucknow Supergiants batted first in this match. Batting first, the start of the Lucknow Supergiants team was very good. The pair of Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh made a brilliant partnership of 87 runs in 60 balls for the first wicket. In which Markram played an innings of 52 runs in 33 balls with the help of two fours and three sixes. Apart from this, Mitchell Marsh scored 45 runs in 36 balls which included 3 fours and 1 six. But after this, Nicholas Pooran, who came to bat at number three, was bowled by Starc after scoring 9 runs in five balls.

 After this, Abdul Samad, who was promoted to bat, was also out after scoring two runs. David Miller scored 14 and Ayush Badoni scored 36 runs. Rishabh Pant came to bat quite low in this match and returned to the pavilion without opening the account in two balls. Mukesh Kumar took four wickets for 33 runs in four overs from the Delhi Capitals team. Apart from this, Starc and Chameera also got one wicket each.

KL Rahul played a brilliant innings while chasing the target

Chasing the target of 160 runs, Delhi Capitals team opener Abhishek Porel scored 51 runs in this match. Karun Nair scored 15 runs in 9 balls. KL Rahul also played an innings of 57 runs in 42 balls in this match. Aiden Markram took two wickets in this match.

Twitter reactions after DC wins 40th match of IPL 2025

What a way to finish the game🔥#DCvLSG #LSGvsDC
pic.twitter.com/rtfBN9Mz7I pic.twitter.com/zdCGvGp5wb

— auqib (@auqibhabib) April 22, 2025

Rishabh Pant 🗿
❌ Performance - 0%
✅ Luck - 100%#LSGvsDC #LSGvDC #RishabhPant pic.twitter.com/TG0IRWIOND

— chacha (@meme_kalakar) April 22, 2025

Rahul walking away from goenka 🤣🤣😂#klrahul #goenka #ipl #LSGvsDC pic.twitter.com/Wke8kOyoHf

— SarpanchSaab (@kitts1727) April 22, 2025

Rahul's REDEMPTION 🌟 pic.twitter.com/HJoe66LEq8

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) April 22, 2025

Sweet Revenge 🥶🥶@StarSportsIndia not holding back 🤣🤣#LSGvsDC #KLRahul pic.twitter.com/bR1fJGsG0R

— AlwaysFather24 (@ecuberin24) April 22, 2025

⚡ Pitch when LSG Was Batting 😭 🆚 Pitch When DC is Batting 🙂#LSGvsDC #DCvsLSG #LSGvDC #DCvLSG #EarthDay20250 pic.twitter.com/EpO0zABlwV

— The Sports Feed (@thesports_feed) April 22, 2025

If Khud gaye guru had a face 😂😂#LSGvsDC pic.twitter.com/w3T17iw7m8

— IPL Mantra (@IPL_Mantra) April 22, 2025

இந்த பண்ட் க்கு எந்த நாய் புத்தி வந்துச்சோ பேட்டிங்ல முன்னாடி வர இப்டி பயப்படுறான்!#DCvsLSGpic.twitter.com/OiQg6RgsMm

— Troll ஜோக்கர் CSgay™❁ (@Troll_CSgay) April 22, 2025

Ths will always be funny tm😂DC was so proud pic.twitter.com/BkQyNnfZY7

— igJada🪐🫧✨🎀🌺🌊 (@JadaDollz) February 12, 2025

DC LITERALLY MADE FUN OF THE DAMN SCENE💀💀💀 https://t.co/liq0xc7UpB pic.twitter.com/1iMxDrDks2

— ⃟ (@somefloridan) January 15, 2024

🕺 mandhe ivvala kuda🕺

Nxt Match

LSG VS DC== DC Win https://t.co/1GXFPkgz8G pic.twitter.com/B4hTkDNHcf

— Erwin🚩 (@levi_rzzzz) April 21, 2025