Nicholas Pooran’s 34-ball 61, backed by Aiden Markram’s explosive knock, powers LSG to a stunning 7-wicket win over Gujarat Titans, snapping their four-match winning run.
Lucknow, April 13: Nicholas Pooran turned the Ekana Stadium into a launchpad as he unleashed a fiery 61 off just 34 balls to help Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) gun down a competitive 181-run target, handing Gujarat Titans (GT) their first loss in four games in the IPL 2025 season.
Pooran, who smashed seven sixes and a boundary at a staggering strike rate of 179.41, was at his destructive best alongside Aiden Markram (58 off 31), as the duo stitched a match-winning stand after an early platform was laid by skipper Rishabh Pant and Markram.
Speaking after the game, Pooran remarked:
“Sometimes I surprise myself… it’s about understanding who to take down and leaving the ego out.”
The West Indian left-hander emphasized that the win mattered more than personal milestones. “The wicket today was absolutely beautiful to bat on. We knew we had depth and form in the batting unit, so we just needed to carry the momentum,” he said. On attacking left-arm spinner Sai Kishore, Pooran explained: “It was my matchup—I had to be brave. Some days it doesn’t work, today it did.”
Match Recap:
GT, batting first after LSG won the toss, were powered by a 120-run opening stand between captain Shubman Gill (60 off 38) and Sai Sudharsan (56 off 37). However, the middle order collapsed under pressure with no other batter crossing 25. GT could only post 180/6, thanks to disciplined spells from Shardul Thakur (2/34) and Ravi Bishnoi (2/36).
In response, LSG got off to a flying start with Rishabh Pant (21 off 18) and Markram stitching 65 runs for the opening wicket. Markram kept up the pace and found a perfect ally in Pooran, whose ferocious ball-striking demoralized the GT bowlers.
Ayush Badoni provided the finishing touches with an unbeaten 28 off 20 as LSG chased down the target in 19.3 overs, winning by 7 wickets with three balls to spare.
With this victory, LSG now sits third on the points table with four wins in six games, while GT—despite the loss—maintains the second spot due to net run rate.
Brief Scores:
GT: 180/6 (Shubman Gill 60, Sudharsan 56, Shardul Thakur 2/34, Bishnoi 2/36)
LSG: 184/3 in 19.3 overs (Nicholas Pooran 61, Aiden Markram 58, Ayush Badoni 28*)
Result: LSG won by 7 wickets