India’s much-anticipated new era in Test cricket under Shubman Gill got off to a rocky start as England pulled off a stunning five-wicket win in the first Test at Headingley. Chasing a massive target of 371 — the second-highest successful run chase in their Test history—England took a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Ben Duckett’s aggressive 149, helped by Zak Crawley, Joe Root, and debutant Jamie Smith, revealed India’s many weaknesses. It wasn’t as though the visitors were denied victory by a lack of runs—four Indian batters made centuries, and they enjoyed a dominant position in the first innings—but they failed, again, through their own mistakes. Here are three reasons for India’s defeat.

1. Batting Collapses at Crunch Moments

India posted a massive 471 in the first innings and followed up with 364 in the second. But the scorecard doesn’t reveal the collapses that proved pivotal. They were 430/3 in the first innings but lost their last seven wickets for 41 runs. The same trend was followed in the second innings, folding from 333/5 to 364 all out. Debutant Sai Sudharsan and comeback man Karun Nair wasted opportunities, and the lower order could not provide resistance. These late-evening breakdowns cost India a chance to set an unreachable target.

2. Fielding Failures and Dropped Catches

India’s fielding let them down badly, especially in the second innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped four catches—the most by a player in a single Test innings—including a sitter when Ben Duckett was on 97. Duckett capitalized on the reprieve to score 149 and swing the game decisively in England’s favor. The missed chances shifted momentum in England’s favor. Even beyond Jaiswal, the slip cordon looked shaky, Rishabh Pant was inconsistent behind the stumps, and the overall fielding energy seemed flat. Some fans even mocked Jaiswal on X after a viral video showed him dancing near the boundary right after dropping Duckett’s catch, further fueling criticism.

See Also: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 1st Test: Yashasvi Jaiswal dances after dropping 4 catches, gets trolled online

3. Unbalanced and Ineffective Bowling Attack

India’s bowling lacked sharpness in the final innings. Jasprit Bumrah collected 5/83 in the first innings but was blunted on Day 5. The other part of the attack—Siraj, Shardul Thakur, and Prasidh Krishna—was unable to make consistent impacts. Shardul’s inclusion for his batting didn’t justify his ineffectiveness with the ball, and Prasidh looked rusty. Ravindra Jadeja couldn't control the middle overs either. With no wrist-spinner or extra pacer in sight, India’s attack lacked bite and variety to break England’s resolve.

While this Headingley loss isn’t a disaster, it’s a sharp reminder of where India stands in transition. The team has talent, but plugging middle-order gaps, lifting fielding standards, and building bowling depth will be critical as they head to Birmingham for the second Test.

In an exciting IPL 2025 Final at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on June 1, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) narrowly defeated Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 6 runs to deny PBKS their maiden IPL title after years of disappointment.

RCB managed to set a competitive score of 190/9, with Virat Kohli turning in the best performance for RCB with 43 off 35, followed by Rajat Patidar (26 off 16) and Liam Livingstone (25 off 15). PBKS picked up wickets with bowlers Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson (3/48) while conceding runs at crucial times, although Vyshak Vijay Kumar bowled tightly for 1/30.

In pursuit of 191 runs, PBKS put up a fight, finishing on 184/7. Shashank Singh’s 61 off 30 balls at the end gave PBKS hope with contributions from Josh Inglis (39) and Prabhsimran Singh (26). RCB bowlers kept their composure with Krunal Pandya's great economical bowling (2/17), Bhuvneshwar Kumar's (2/38), and Yash Dayal’s (1/18 in 3 overs) fast and tight death bowling. Dayal’s penultimate over changed the course of the match and ultimately led RCB to lift the IPL trophy with all-round performances, which gave the lossless team a historic journey and fulfilled their long-waiting fan base’s dreams. Here are the key reasons that PBKS lost to RCB.

1. Lack of Support for Shashank Singh’s Heroics

From 61*, Shashank Singh scored a brilliant knock off in only 30 balls, but there was no support from the rest of the PBKS batting order. Josh Inglis (39) and Prabhsimran Singh (26) had starts, but the middle and death order lacked the finishing ability. Key elements of the collapse were the lack of stable partnerships and the failure to rotate the strike for long periods, which affected PBKS's reply, forcing pressure on them, and ultimately they fell 6 runs short of an achievable chase.

Also Read: WATCH: RCB skipper Rajat Patidar speaking 'Ee Sala Cup Namdu' after winning their Maiden IPL title

2. Costly Bowling by Key Pacers

While taking wickets, pace bowlers Arshdeep Singh (3/40) and Kyle Jamieson (3/48) were expensive at key times for PBKS. Their inability to slow the opposition down led to PBKS conceding a very respectable 190, particularly at the end of the innings (38 runs off the last 2 overs). A failure to bowl tidy death overs undid their hard work during the earlier periods of their innings and led to RCB attacking freely.

3. No Major Wickets at the Right Time

PBKS failed to get key partnerships when necessary. Virat Kohli's 43 helped to build the foundation for RCB's inning, and PBKS did not provide him early, resulting in a steady contribution from both Patidar and Livingstone, which allowed RCB to control the run rate. In the middle overs, Punjab lacked penetration with the ball, and in a tight final like this, they would regret that.

In the IPL 2025 Qualifier 2 matchup, Mumbai Indians faced Punjab Kings. MI batted first, scoring 203/6 in 20 overs with the help of Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma, who both finished with 44 runs (Suryakumar off 26 balls and Tilak off 29 balls). Jonny Bairstow also chipped in, scoring 38 runs off 24 balls. MI unfortunately did not finish their innings well, leaving them with a total of 203 runs that could have been higher. PBKS bowler Azmatullah Omarzai took 2/43 off 4 overs, while Marcus Stoinis (1/14) and Kyle Jamieson (1/30) chipped in with a wicket in their 4 overs.

PBKS chased down 204 runs with a score of 207/5 in 19 overs, with Shreyas Iyer, who scored 87* runs off 41 balls, leading the way for PBKS along with Nehal Wadhera, who scored 48 runs off 29 balls, and Josh Inglis, who scored 38 runs off 21 balls. MI Ashwani Kumar took 2/55 off 4 overs, while those MI bowlers Hardik Pandya (1/19) and Trent Boult (1/38) kept a wicket each off their 4 overs. MI’s death bowling was the key reason for MI’s defeat. Therefore, MI’s loss set MI’s investment in the IPL for 2025 at stake as PBKS advanced to the IPL 2025 Final.

1. Shreyas Iyer's match winning knock

Shreyas Iyer produced a blistering innings, making 87 from just 41 deliveries. His timing was impeccable, and his shot selection kept the momentum with Punjab Kings throughout the chase. He ensured that the required run rate remained in check with timely boundaries and good strike rotation. He was so calm under pressure and ensured that his team did not feel panic in crucial moments. This well-paced innings was the basis for Punjab’s successful chase.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Qualifier 2: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians Full Match Highlights

2. Ineffective death bowling by MI

Mumbai Indians never really found a way to halt the free flow of runs in the final overs, regardless of how early inroads were made. Their death bowling lacked both control and discipline, allowing Punjab Kings to score more than 60 runs in just the last 5 overs. Even seasoned operators such as Trent Boult went at more than 10 runs per over, belatedly conceding 38 runs in just his spell. Accepting runs in this manner in this way was exposed by MI’s inability to execute yorkers and slower balls in a pressured environment and proved to be very costly. To cap it off, MI failed to put the finishing touch at the most critical stage.

3. Lack of a big finish in MI innings

Although MI made a competitive 203/6, their batting wasn’t fast enough in the final set of balls to make it virtually impossible to chase down. Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma did well, but their individual efforts lacked the capacity for maximum impact. The loss of wickets in the death overs stalled the scoring rate just when a 220+ target seemed achievable. Punjab’s disciplined bowling in the final phase curtailed MI’s momentum. This gave Punjab a realistic chance to chase down the target successfully.

In the IPL 2025 Eliminator, Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated the Gujarat Titans (GT) by 20 runs. MI posted a solid score of 228/5 in their allotted 20 overs, led by Rohit Sharma, who made 81 off 50 balls, and Jonny Bairstow 47 off 22, while Hardik Pandya chipped in 22* off 9 balls. GT's bowlers struggled to contain the MI batters. Sai Kishore took 2/42 in his 4 overs, and Prasidh Krishna took 2/53 in his 4 overs; Mohammed Siraj took the only other wicket with 1/37 in his 4 overs. 

GT chased 229 and managed 208/6 in their allotted 20 overs. The highest contributor was Sai Sudharsan with 80 off 49 balls and Washington Sundar’s 48 off 24. MI bowlers were led by Trent Boult with 2/56 in his 4 overs and Jasprit Bumrah with 1/27 in his 4 overs, with Sai Kishore and Prasidh Krishna contributing in the field. GT could not keep momentum going after Sudharsan was dismissed. While they made a good case, the total overstretched them. This victory for MI took them to Qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings (PBKS); GT’s IPL 2025 had a disappointing ending. Here are the key reasons that GT lost to MI.

1. Dropped Catches during Powerplay

Gujarat’s fielders cost the team by dropping three easy catches in the powerplay. The dropped catches off Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav allowed MI to get a start and build momentum. These dropped catches gave MI an ideal start and upset GT’s bowling plans. Such errors are costly in knockout matches.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Eliminator: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Titans Full Match Highlights

2. Expensive Bowling in Crucial Phases

GT’s bowlers, particularly in the death overs, struggled to stem the run flow as MI made a massive total of 228/5. Both Prasidh Krishna (2/53) and Trent Boult (2/56) struggled with their line and length. They executed poor ball deliveries under pressure, and MI batters were able to get away for runs during the last overs due to ineffective bowling. The ability of the GT bowlers to defend important overs considerably tilted the match in MI’s favor.

3. Batting Collapse After Strong Start

After getting a solid 50-run stand from Sudharsan and Sundar, the innings lost its shape very quickly. The rare Kusal Mendis hit-wicket dismissal halted the momentum at a pivotal time. The lower middle order could not keep up with the run rate, which added pressure. Although there was a possibility of chasing down the runs, GT ended up losing by 20 runs.

In Match 69 of IPL 2025, Punjab Kings (PBKS) triumphed over Mumbai Indians (MI) by 7 wickets in a match held at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on May 26, 2025. After winning the toss, PBKS decided to bowl first, and they limited MI to 184/7, which was below par on a pitch that encouraged batting. Suryakumar Yadav scored 57 off 39 balls with beautiful strokes, while Ryan Rickelton (27 off 20) and Hardik Pandya (26 off 15) also got starts but could not go on. PBKS used their bowling attack relentlessly, proving too much for MI. Arshdeep Singh (2/28) had a lively spell, as did Marco Jansen (2/34) and Vyshak Vijay Kumar (2/44), keeping MI at bay. 

MI was very poor with the ball for their defense of the target, as PBKS openers Josh Inglis (73 off 42) and Priyansh Arya (62 off 35) came out firing. The openers put on a rapid 109 partnership before the wheels completely fell off for MI, as they crumbled to PBKS' total of 187/3 in 18.3 overs, with Shreyas Iyer finishing the innings on 26* off 16 balls. MI's bowlers struggled to slow PBKS down, with only Jasprit Bumrah (1/23) turning in an economical performance. Mitchell Santner (2/41) and Will Jacks (0/11) had no answer. The convincing victory gave PBKS a top 2 finish, with MI finishing the tournament on a sour note. Here are the key reasons that MI lost to PBKS.

1. Underwhelming Batting Effort

Mumbai Indians (MI) finished 184/7 in 20 overs on a good batting wicket (with a total approximately 15-20 runs short); Suryakumar Yadav scored 57 (39), but Ryan Rickelton (27 off 20) and Hardik Pandya (26 off 15) failed to drive the innings due to their lack of intent. Punjab Kings (PBKS) eased to 187/3 in 18.3 overs through Josh Inglis (73 off 42) and Priyansh Arya (62 off 35).

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 69: Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians Full Match Highlights

2. Ineffective Bowling and Fielding

MI bowling struggled after Deepak Chahar's injury. Jasprit Bumrah went unchanged in the powerplay and took 1/23 in 4 overs. PBKS seized the momentum with a partnership of 109 by Inglis/Aryas, with Shreyas Iyer (26* off 16) finishing the game, and MI's abysmal fielding enhanced the struggle. The circumstances continued to gain momentum for Punjab during the chase.

3. Tactical and Captaincy Errors

Hardik Pandya's captaincy was overly passive, and failing to use Bumrah in the early overs of the powerplay was particularly egregious given the fact that MI lost Chahar's services; this is the immediate tactical mistake MI made to re-enter the game after the loss of Chahar's bowling in the 4th over. Once PBKS was set and building the momentum, MI failed to disrupt them at any stage, and they ended up losing the game by 7 wickets with PBKS finishing in the top 2 in IPL 2025.

In Match 68 of IPL 2025, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) emphatically defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 110 runs, and the game was played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. After winning the toss, SRH chose to bat first and scored an extraordinary 278/3, one of the highest ever totals in IPL history! Heinrich Klaasen had a remarkable evening; his innings of 105 off 39 balls* included 8 fours and 9 sixes. Making significant contributions were Travis Head (76/40) and Abhishek Sharma (32/16), who helped manage the run rate and keep scoring in check! KKR's bowlers had no answers to SRH's onslaught, and their best bowlers were also taken down.

KKR's chase fell apart early, with early wickets damaging momentum, and captain Ajinkya Rahane was unable to play the anchor role his side depended upon.   KKR's middle order was completely under pressure with a huge target to chase, and even though Manish Pandey (37 off 23), Sunil Narine (31 off 16), and Harshit Rana (34 off 21) had quick contributions, KKR was never in the game and totally capitulated for a paltry 168 runs in 18.4 overs.

The SRH bowling group supported their onslaught of a total with discipline and aggression. Jaydev Unadkat (3/24), Eshan Malinga (3/31), and Harsh Dubey (3/34) shared the wickets and prevented KKR from building any momentum. This emphatic victory sealed the final of their campaign, while KKR ended their campaign in a disappointing fashion.

1. Inability to Contain SRH’s Explosive Batting

SRH's top order, particularly Heinrich Klaasen’s 105* (39) and Travis Head’s 76 (40), butchered KKR’s bowling attack. KKR's bowlers did not execute their plans, not even senior Andre Russell keeping his economy under control, going for 34 in two overs. KKR had no answers for SRH’s fight, leading them to a mammoth 278/3, which is in the top ten highest team totals in IPL history.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 68: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders Full Match Highlights

2. Poor Execution of Bowling Plans

Ajinkya Rahane stated that the KKR bowlers did not bowl their variations well. The wider yorkers and slower balls pitched too wide and too full allowed SRH batters to punish them. The bowlers did not maintain a good and disciplined line and length, particularly in the death overs, which inflated the score towards an unreachable landmark.

3. Weak Response with the Bat Under Pressure

Chasing a near-impossible target, KKR started woefully, losing wickets on the regular. Only Manish Pandey (37), Harshit Rana (34), and Sunil Narine (31) helped enough resistance as the rest of the lineup succumbed to scoreboard pressure, not able to stitch together any partnerships to stabilize the innings, leading to their collapse at 168 in 18.4 overs.

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) crushed Gujarat Titans (GT) by 83 runs in Match 67 of IPL 2025 in Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. CSK batted first and scored 230/5, with Dewald Brevis playing the innings of his life with a swashbuckling 57 off 23 balls, followed by Devon Conway (52 off 35) and Urvil Patel (37 off 13 to help accelerate the innings). Gujarat bowlers simply couldn't rein in the run rate.

Gujarat Titans' chase started poorly, as captain Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply, not giving his team any momentum early. Titans lost wickets heavily during the powerplay and didn't recover from that situation for the rest of the innings. Sai Sudharsan showed some resistance with a fighting knock of 41 off 28 balls, but the other batters didn't support him. Shahrukh Khan and Arshad Khan chipped in with small contributions, but when they were out, the Titans collapsed to 147 all out in 18.3 overs.

Chennai has their fast bowlers executing their plan to a tee, with Noor Ahmad (3/21), Anshul Kamboj (3/13), and Ravindra Jadeja also bowling well and constraining the run rate. With this emphatic win, CSK ended their campaign on a high, while Shubman Gill’s Gujarat side suffered a heavy blow to their playoff hopes. Here are the Key reasons why GT lost to CSK.

1. Expensive Powerplay Bowling

The Gujarat Titans got off to an awful start with the ball, conceding in excess of 70 runs in the powerplay. The CSK top order, led by Dewald Brevis and Devon Conway, unleashed brutal power early on, leaving the GT bowlers behind the 8 ball. With no early wickets and pressure on the batting team, CSK were masters of the innings and set the tone for a mammoth total of 230. 

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 67: Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings Full Match Highlights

2. Lack of Control in Middle Overs

The GT bowlers and fielders were undisciplined in the middle overs of the innings. The spinners and medium pacers offered no control, and they were unable to pick up timely wickets. Fielding errors and missed chances cost us momentum. The CSK batters quickly cashed in with runs, and better still, they maintained a run rate above 11 for the entirety of the innings, ensuring the run rate did not drop even in the death overs. 

3. Top-Order Failure Under Pressure

With such a huge target to chase, Gujarat would be expecting to consolidate and build; however, the early wicket of Sai Sudharsan, followed by another wicket from Gil as well as poor running, killed the momentum of the chase for Gujarat. The top order collapsed under pressure with 3 early losses within the Powerplay, and there were no significant partnerships. The middle order could not step up and change the order of the chase. The scoreboard fought against the young Gujarat side, and an embarrassing collapse soon led to an 83-run defeat.

In Match 66 of IPL 2025, the Delhi Capitals emerged victorious over the Punjab Kings by 6 wickets in a hard-fought contest at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. The Punjab Kings set an impressive 206/8, thanks to some classy batting by Shreyas Iyer, who scored 53 off 34 balls, and a late onslaught from Marcus Stoinis, who scored 44* off just 16 balls. The game changed dramatically in the last few overs, wherein almost 70 runs were scored, taking a competitive total and turning it into a mountain of runs on a good batting track.

Chasing 207, Delhi looked firmly in control of the required run rate with KL Rahul and Karun Nair doing the bulk of the run scoring, with Nair contributing 44 runs off 27 deliveries. The match changed decisively once Sameer Rizvi took control of the match, scoring an explosive 58* off just 25 balls, and completed the chase with 3 balls to spare. Rizvi showed maturity beyond his years, increasing the run rate expertly in the last few overs.

Punjab Kings had some victories, bringing down the wickets by Harpreet Brar and Praveen Dubey; however, the death bowling proved difficult under pressure. Delhi managed to cash in on a few bad deliveries, closing out the game. Delhi moved to now still be in contention for the playoffs and leave Punjab with an uphill battle to stay in the tournament!. Here are the Key reasons why PBKS lost to DC.

1. Poor Execution in Bowling Plans

Punjab Kings put a large bowl on the scoreboard at 206, but their execution failed while defending the target. Captain Shreyas Iyer said they needed to bowl to the plan and bowl hard lengths; instead, they bowled short, and that was on the wrong surface of the pitch, causing Delhi batters to settle and score effortlessly.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 66: Punjab Kings vs Delhi Capitals Full Match Highlights

2. Lack of Discipline Under Pressure

When Punjab reached the pressure stages of defense, the bowler's composure disappeared, and too many balls went to the boundary. One would think the pressure of defending a large target affected their decision-making and control on their accuracy. Punjab really never maintained pressure during the middle and death overs; at times the pressure of the occasion got to them, and this wasn't a good thing.

3. Inability to Contain Sameer Rizvi

Sameer Rizvi's 58* off just 25 balls was the match-winning innings, which was performed by Delhi. Punjab's bowlers have no plan to slow him down, nor did they manage to build him up and actually mount pressure on him. Really, Rizvi's aggressive stroke play highlighted how flimsy Punjab's death bowling options were, and ultimately this was sloppy cleansing hitting under pressure with no answers from Punjab.

In Match 63 of IPL 2025, the Mumbai Indians (MI) snatched a 59-run win against the Delhi Capitals (DC) to keep their playoff hopes alive at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Batting first, MI managed a strong score of 180/5 despite tricky conditions behind Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 73* (43 balls). The explosive cameo from Naman Dhir, batting 23* off 12 balls, bolstered the innings at the development phase of the innings. MI blazed nearly 50 runs in the last couple of overs, turning what appeared to be a 160 total into a significant target of 180. 

In a normal season, these runs would be utterly unattainable, but the MI bowlers used scoreboard pressure on DC. A lone effort from Sameer Rizvi (39 off 35 balls) stood out amongst the batting hurdle. It became evident during the DC innings that MI's bowlers were always going to be relentless—I mean, look at their roster! Mitchell Santner (3/11) routed DC through the middle overs, Jasprit Bumrah (3/12) struck bowled through the powerplay and the death, and Will Jacks played a DD before DC's respective batsmen could blink. MI quickly routed DC for 121 in 18.2 overs.  

DC's early followers, including Kuldeep and Mukesh, were always in control, but their efforts spiraled down a rabbit hole in the last few overs, where DC didn't have Axar Patel and Mitchell Starc. the Indian team would have driven MI down a rabbit hole themselves. MI now surges with confidence toward the playoff battle, while DC’s hopes hang by a thread, needing wins in all remaining games.

1. Expensive Death Overs

Delhi Capitals was completely in control for the first 18 overs, keeping MI down to a modest score. Their death bowling fell apart completely, giving away almost 50 runs in the last two overs. With loose bowling from DC, batting maestro Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir took MI up to a relevant 180 total -- more than enough on a slow Wankhede pitch.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 63: Mumbai Indians vs Delhi Capitals Full Match Highlights

2. Batting Collapse Under Pressure

Delhi's batting never really got going in that chase. Sameer Rizvi ground out a hard-fought 39, but apart from a few wandering partnerships, the batting never got going. In just 18.2 overs, Delhi capitulated for just 121 runs. Michal Santner (3/11) and Jasprit Bumrah (3/12), simply put, piled pressure on the DC batting at crucial times, too, exposing DC's fragility.

3. Absence of Key Players

Delhi's missing Axar Patel and Mitchell Starc was severely damaging. With Axar turning the ball, he would have had a field day as Santner did. Starc's raw pace would have added bite to the attack. Without Starc and Axar Patel, DC would have had to play to their strengths, key players who lacked a 'bite,' as they attempted to match up against the quality of MI.

In IPL 2025 Match 61, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) knocked out Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by a 6-wicket win at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. LSG, who batted first after SRH had won the toss, scored 205/7, thanks to Mitchell Marsh's 65 (39) and Aiden Markram's 61 (38). Nicholas Pooran's 45 (26) was a late flourish, but SRH's bowlers, headed by Eshan Malinga (2/28), restricted the run-rate despite Harsh Dubey's costly 1/44.

SRH's pursuit was driven by Abhishek Sharma's 59 (20) off the straps early. Heinrich Klaasen (47 off 28) and Ishan Kishan (35 off 28) ensured an easy ride with a smooth finish to 206/4 in 18.2 overs. LSG's bowlers found it hard, with Digvesh Rathi (2/37) picking crucial wickets but failing to prevent the flow of runs. Will O'Rourke (1/31) and Shardul Thakur (1/39) were unable to halt SRH's run, as LSG's fielding errors and failure to pick up wickets cost them.

This defeat ruled LSG out of playoff contention, with Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals competing for the last spot. SRH's dominating chase consolidated their playoff standing, reflecting their depth and pressure-handling capability in a do-or-die game. Here are the top reasons why LSG lost to SRH.

1. Ineffective Powerplay Bowling

LSG was unable to make early inroads in the powerplay while defending a large total. Abhishek Sharma's aggressive 59 of 20 balls simply took the game away in the first six overs. Lack of control and penetration amongst LSG's bowlers enabled SRH to score without any restraint and gain early momentum, making the chase that much more easier.

2. Lack of Ability to Defend a Strong Total

Bowlers for LSG were unable to sustain any of the pressure and threat throughout the innings in this game, despite posting a competitive score of 205/7. Since there was no bowler performing, particularly due to lack of aggression and attacking field placement, there was little sustained speculation. The best bowler was Digvesh Rathi, with little support from the other bowlers who ultimately could not contain Klaasen and Ishan Kishan (SRH middle order).

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 61: Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad Full Match Highlights

3. Lack of Bowling Depth and Injuries

LSG's all-season problem of injuries to major bowlers caught up with them again. The side did not have a consistent death bowling option and spin variety, which was taken advantage of by SRH's batsmen in the latter stages of the game. As captain Rishabh Pant concurred, lack of a settled bowling attack because of injuries impacted their game plans and execution.