NEW DELHI: In a gripping encounter at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured a nail-biting 12-run victory against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 16th match of the IPL 2025. The match, played on a Friday evening, was a testament to the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, with young leg-spinner Digvesh Singh Rathi emerging as the hero for LSG.
LSG, batting first, set a formidable target of 203/8, largely thanks to an explosive knock of 60 off just 31 balls by Mitchell Marsh. The innings was further bolstered by a late flourish from David Miller, who scored a quickfire 27 off 14 balls. Despite a valiant effort from MI’s bowling attack, led by Hardik Pandya, who claimed a remarkable five-wicket haul, LSG managed to post a challenging total.
Pandya’s spell was nothing short of spectacular, with key dismissals of Nicolas Pooran, Rishabh Pant, Miller, and Aiden Markram, keeping MI in the hunt. However, the real drama unfolded in the second innings, where MI seemed poised for victory, with Suryakumar Yadav looking in ominous form.
At 86/2 in the 9th over, MI appeared to be cruising towards the target. But the game took a dramatic turn when Rathi, in only his second IPL match, delivered a match-defining spell. His crucial breakthrough came when he dismissed the dangerous Naman Dhir for 46 with a sharp delivery that skidded on and bowled him, effectively derailing MI’s momentum.
Rathi’s figures of 1/21 were not just economical but tactically brilliant. Bowling with superb control and guile, he applied relentless pressure in the middle overs, conceding just 11 runs in his final two overs when MI were gearing up for a final assault. His tight spell forced the MI batters to take risks, leading to Suryakumar’s dismissal in the 17th over.
Despite a late onslaught from Pandya, LSG’s total proved just out of reach for MI, who finished at 191/5. Rathi’s composure and fearless approach under pressure earned him the Player of the Match award, marking him as a rising star in LSG’s ranks.
This victory propels LSG to sixth place on the IPL 2025 points table, injecting fresh momentum into their campaign. For MI, the loss raises questions about their middle-order finishing and death bowling. However, the name that will linger in their minds from this game is undoubtedly Digvesh Singh Rathi.