IPL 2025: Nicholas Pooran and Shardul Thakur star in Lucknow's win over Hyderabad

Nicholas Pooran and Shardul Thakur starred as Lucknow Super Giants cruised to a five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL clash in Hyderabad on Thursday.

Chasing a below-par 191, LSG seized control within the first 10 overs. Pooran and Mitchell Marsh struck half-centuries to set up the chase, before skipper Rishabh Pant, David Miller, and Abdul Samad added useful contributions to seal the win with 3.1 overs to spare.

At the toss, Pant confidently stated his team would restrict Hyderabad to a low total and chase it down. His bowlers backed up his words, dismantling the dangerous Sunrisers top order.

Travis Head attempted to keep Hyderabad in the game but failed to capitalise on two dropped chances, falling for 47 when Prince Yadav clean-bowled him. Lucknow’s bowlers remained disciplined, with Thakur leading the charge, finishing with a four-wicket haul.

The victory puts Lucknow’s campaign back on track while exposing vulnerabilities in Sunrisers’ much-vaunted batting line-up.

Nicholas Pooran’s blistering knock has all but taken the match away from Sunrisers Hyderabad. The left-hander smashed 70 off just 26 balls, forging a 116-run partnership for the second wicket with Mitchell Marsh to power Lucknow to 138 for 3.

Pat Cummins dismissed the dangerous West Indian, but the damage was already done. Marsh too reached his half-century before falling as Cummins’ second wicket. Lucknow are now in cruise control, needing just 53 off 54 balls, with Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni at the crease and just need to give the finishing touches without trying anything out of the ordinary.

Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh have put Sunrisers Hyderabad on the back foot. After six overs, LSG are cruising at 77 for 1, with Pooran blazing his way to 43 off just 15 balls and Marsh on 25.

Lucknow backed themselves when they opted to field first, playing Hyderabad at their own game. Their confidence was evident as they dismissed all key batters to restrict the hosts to 190/9. Shardul Thakur, coming off a strong domestic season, starred with 4 for 34, while all other bowlers chipped in with a wicket each. Prince Yadav, expensive in the previous game, was the most economical this time. Aniket Verma’s quickfire 36 off 13 balls gave Hyderabad a fighting total.

Sunrisers Hyderabad find themselves in trouble after losing all their key batters. Travis Head couldn’t capitalise on his reprieves and was bowled by Prince Yadav for 46. Heinrich Klaasen, just settling into his rhythm, was unlucky to be run out when Prince deflected a straight drive onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end, catching Klaasen out of his crease.

Nitish Kumar Reddy is holding one end up with a patient 32 as Hyderabad reach 128 for 4 after 14 overs.

Lucknow pacer Shardul Thakur once again struck early, dismissing opener Abhishek Sharma (6) and last-match centurion Ishan Kishan for a duck. After putting Hyderabad on the back foot, Lucknow let dangerman Travis Head off the hook—he was dropped twice in the sixth over. Ravi Bishnoi missed a tough return catch, while Nicholas Pooran put down a sitter at long-on.

The hosts are 62 for 2 after the powerplay, with Head on 42 and Nitish Kumar Reddy on 11.

Lucknow skipper Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to bowl first against Hyderabad on Thursday.

“We want to get them out as early as possible and chase the target,” Pant said after the toss. “Doesn’t matter how many they score, we’re gonna chase it down.”

Avesh Khan returns to the squad after regaining fitness, while Manimaran Siddarth is replaced by Abdul Samad.

Hyderabad skipper Pat Cummins is unfazed by the toss result. “Losing the toss doesn’t really change things,” the Australian said, adding that the hosts have stuck with an unchanged squad.

Teams

Sunrisers Hyderabad

Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Heinrich Klaasen, Aniket Verma, Abhinav Manohar, Pat Cummins (captain), Simarjeet Singh, Harshal Patel, Mohammed Shami. Impact Sub options: Sachin Baby, Jaydev Unadkat, Zeeshan Ansari, Adam Zampa and Wiaan Mulder.

Lucknow Super Giants

Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), Ayush Badoni, David Miller, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi, Prince Yadav. Impact options: Shahbaz, Siddharth, Mitchell Marsh, Himmat Singh, Akash Singh.