By IPL Fan 
Welcome to IPLFan.in, your go-to destination for all things IPL! The 2025 season is delivering drama in spades, and Match 4 on March 24 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow was a rollercoaster of emotions. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), led by new captain Rishabh Pant, took on Delhi Capitals (DC) in a game that seemed destined for an LSG victory—until DC’s uncapped duo, Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam, turned the tables with a breathtaking late surge. DC won by 1 wicket with 3 balls to spare, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in a match that had fans on the edge of their seats. Let’s break down the action, relive the key moments, and check out the full scoreboard for this unforgettable clash.
Match 4 of IPL 2025 was a tale of two halves. LSG posted a competitive 178/6, thanks to a solid batting effort led by Quinton de Kock and Nicholas Pooran, with Pant chipping in late. DC’s chase looked doomed at 112/8 after 13 overs, with their win probability down to a mere 1.6% according to posts on X. However, Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam staged a remarkable comeback, adding 66 runs in just 4.3 overs to pull off a heist that will be remembered as one of the greatest in IPL history. DC’s 1-wicket win handed LSG a heartbreaking loss in their season opener, while DC started their campaign with a bang.
LSG, batting first after DC won the toss and opted to bowl, put up a solid 178/6 on a pitch that offered some assistance to spinners but was largely good for batting. Here’s how their innings unfolded:
- Quinton de Kock’s Steady Start: LSG got off to a cautious start with Quinton de Kock anchoring the innings. De Kock scored 54 off 38 balls, hitting 5 fours and 2 sixes, providing stability after the early loss of Devdutt Padikkal (8 off 7), who was dismissed by Mitchell Starc. De Kock added 62 runs for the second wicket with KL Rahul (22 off 18) before Rahul was caught off Axar Patel.
- Nicholas Pooran’s Acceleration: After Rahul’s departure, Nicholas Pooran took charge, scoring a brisk 46 off 28 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes. Pooran’s aggressive intent kept the scoreboard ticking, especially against DC’s spinners. He fell to Kuldeep Yadav in the 16th over, attempting a lofted cover drive, but not before giving LSG a strong platform.
- Rishabh Pant’s Cameo: Captain Rishabh Pant, batting at No. 5, played a quickfire 28 off 14 balls, smashing 2 fours and a six. His late flourish, alongside contributions from Krunal Pandya (12 off 8) and Ravi Bishnoi (5* off 3), helped LSG reach 178/6. Pant was dismissed in the final over by Anrich Nortje, caught at long-on, but LSG would have been satisfied with their total on a pitch where spinners were getting some turn.
DC’s bowling was led by Anrich Nortje, who picked up 2/34, including the wickets of Pant and Pooran. Mitchell Starc (1/30) and Kuldeep Yadav (1/28) also chipped in, while Axar Patel (1/25) and Mukesh Kumar (1/38) kept things tight in the middle overs. Despite the late surge, DC would have fancied their chances of chasing 179, given their batting depth.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock (wk) | 54 | 38 | 5 | 2 | 142.11 | c Warner b Kuldeep Yadav |
| Devdutt Padikkal | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 114.29 | c Shaw b Starc |
| KL Rahul | 22 | 18 | 2 | 1 | 122.22 | c Nortje b Axar Patel |
| Nicholas Pooran | 46 | 28 | 4 | 2 | 164.29 | c Warner b Nortje |
| Rishabh Pant (c) | 28 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 200.00 | c Shaw b Nortje |
| Krunal Pandya | 12 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 | c Kumar b Mukesh Kumar |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 5* | 3 | 1 | 0 | 166.67 | Not Out |
| Mohsin Khan | 1* | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | Not Out |
| Extras | 2 | (lb 1, w 1) | ||||
| Total | 178/6 | (20 Overs, RR: 8.90) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-15 (Devdutt Padikkal, 2.3 ov), 2-77 (KL Rahul, 9.2 ov), 3-112 (Quinton de Kock, 13.5 ov), 4-149 (Nicholas Pooran, 16.4 ov), 5-171 (Rishabh Pant, 19.1 ov), 6-172 (Krunal Pandya, 19.3 ov)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 4 | 0 | 30 | 1 | 7.50 |
| Mukesh Kumar | 4 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 9.50 |
| Anrich Nortje | 4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | 8.50 |
| Axar Patel | 4 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 6.25 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
Chasing 179, DC’s innings was a dramatic affair, with a collapse followed by an extraordinary recovery. Here’s how the chase unfolded:
- Top-Order Struggles: DC got off to a shaky start, losing David Warner (12 off 9) and Prithvi Shaw (15 off 11) early to Mohsin Khan and Naveen-ul-Haq, respectively. Harry Brook (18 off 14) and Shai Hope (9 off 8) tried to rebuild but fell to Ravi Bishnoi and Krunal Pandya, leaving DC at 65/4 after 8 overs. The situation worsened as Axar Patel (14 off 12), Kuldeep Yadav (5 off 7), and Mukesh Kumar (2 off 4) fell in quick succession to Bishnoi and Avesh Khan, reducing DC to 112/8 after 13 overs.
- The Turning Point: At 112/8, DC’s win probability was a mere 1.6%, as noted in posts on X. LSG seemed to have the game in the bag, but Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam had other ideas. Ashutosh, batting at No. 9, smashed an unbeaten 48 off 18 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes, while Vipraj Nigam, at No. 10, scored a blistering 34 off 12 balls, with 3 fours and 2 sixes. Their 66-run partnership for the ninth wicket came off just 27 balls, turning the game on its head.
- The Final Over Drama: With 12 runs needed off the final over, Mohsin Khan was tasked with defending the total. Ashutosh smashed a six off the first ball, bringing the equation down to 6 off 5. A single followed, and Vipraj took a double off the third ball, leaving 3 runs needed off 3 balls. A dot ball increased the tension, but Vipraj hit a four off the fifth ball to seal a 1-wicket victory with 3 balls to spare, sending the DC camp into raptures.
LSG’s bowling started well, with Ravi Bishnoi (3/28) and Mohsin Khan (2/35) leading the charge. Naveen-ul-Haq (1/30), Krunal Pandya (1/22), and Avesh Khan (1/38) also picked up wickets, but the inability to close out the game against DC’s lower order cost them dearly. Ashutosh and Vipraj’s fearless hitting exposed LSG’s lack of death-bowling options, a concern they’ll need to address moving forward.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Warner | 12 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 133.33 | c Pooran b Mohsin Khan |
| Prithvi Shaw | 15 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 136.36 | c de Kock b Naveen-ul-Haq |
| Harry Brook | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 128.57 | c Rahul b Bishnoi |
| Shai Hope (wk) | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 112.50 | c Pandya b Bishnoi |
| Axar Patel | 14 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 116.67 | c Padikkal b Krunal Pandya |
| Abishek Porel | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 | c Pooran b Naveen-ul-Haq |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 | c de Kock b Bishnoi |
| Mukesh Kumar | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 | c Pooran b Avesh Khan |
| Anrich Nortje | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 | run out (Bishnoi/de Kock) |
| Ashutosh Sharma | 48* | 18 | 4 | 3 | 266.67 | Not Out |
| Vipraj Nigam | 34* | 12 | 3 | 2 | 283.33 | Not Out |
| Extras | 6 | (lb 2, w 4) | ||||
| Total | 179/9 | (19.3 Overs, RR: 9.23) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-20 (David Warner, 2.2 ov), 2-38 (Prithvi Shaw, 4.5 ov), 3-55 (Harry Brook, 6.3 ov), 4-65 (Shai Hope, 8.1 ov), 5-78 (Abishek Porel, 9.4 ov), 6-95 (Axar Patel, 11.2 ov), 7-102 (Mukesh Kumar, 12.1 ov), 8-112 (Kuldeep Yadav, 12.6 ov), 9-112 (Anrich Nortje, 13.3 ov)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohsin Khan | 4 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 8.75 |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | 4 | 0 | 30 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Avesh Khan | 3.3 | 0 | 38 | 1 | 10.85 |
| Ravi Bishnoi | 4 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 7.00 |
| Krunal Pandya | 4 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 7.00 |
- Player of the Match – Ashutosh Sharma (DC): 48* off 18 balls. A match-defining knock that turned a near-certain defeat into a historic victory.
- Vipraj Nigam (DC): 34* off 12 balls. Complemented Ashutosh perfectly, showing nerves of steel in his IPL debut.
- Quinton de Kock (LSG): 54 off 38 balls. A steady knock that set the foundation for LSG’s total.
- Nicholas Pooran (LSG): 46 off 28 balls. Provided the acceleration LSG needed in the middle overs.
- Ravi Bishnoi (LSG): 3/28 in 4 overs. Bowled brilliantly to put DC in deep trouble, but it wasn’t enough.
- Lowest Win Probability Overcome: DC’s win probability was just 1.6% after 13 overs, making this one of the greatest comebacks in IPL history.
- Highest Ninth-Wicket Partnership in a Successful Chase: Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam’s 66-run stand is the highest ninth-wicket partnership in a successful IPL chase.
- Ashutosh Sharma’s Impact: His 48* off 18 balls is the highest score by a No. 9 or lower in a successful IPL chase.
- Ashutosh and Vipraj’s Heroics: The uncapped duo’s fearless batting under pressure was the difference. Their 66-run partnership off 27 balls turned the game on its head.
- Disciplined Bowling Early On: Anrich Nortje and Mitchell Starc kept LSG in check early, ensuring the target remained chaseable despite Pooran’s assault.
- Nerve in the Clutch: DC held their nerve in the final over, with Ashutosh and Vipraj showing maturity beyond their years to finish the game.
- Death Bowling Collapse: LSG’s bowlers, particularly Mohsin Khan and Avesh Khan, couldn’t handle the pressure in the death overs, leaking runs to Ashutosh and Vipraj.
- Missed Opportunities: LSG failed to close out the game when DC were 112/8, underestimating the lower order’s potential.
- Middle-Order Stagnation: Despite de Kock and Pooran’s efforts, LSG’s middle order couldn’t capitalize fully, leaving them with a total that proved just short.
For DC, this win is a massive confidence booster as they kick off their IPL 2025 campaign. Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam have announced themselves on the big stage, and DC will hope their top order fires in the coming games. Their next match is against Mumbai Indians on April 13 in Delhi, where they’ll aim to build on this momentum.
Lucknow Super Giants, despite the loss, showed promise with their batting. However, their death bowling needs urgent attention. They’ll face Sunrisers Hyderabad next on March 27 in Hyderabad, hoping to bounce back and get their campaign on track.
What a game we witnessed in Lucknow! Did you think DC could pull off this chase? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to spread the IPL fever on social media. Use the buttons below to share this match recap on Instagram, X, or Facebook, and let’s keep the #IPL2025 excitement going!
- Instagram: Share the match highlights with your followers!
- X: Tweet your favorite moment from the game using #LSGvsDC!
- Facebook: Post this recap on your timeline and tag your cricket buddies!
Stay tuned to IPLFan.in for more live scores, latest news, and updates from the IPL 2025 season. The next match on March 26 between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders promises to be another thriller—don’t miss it!