Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings Match Scorecard

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is a festival of cricket that brings joy, excitement, and nail-biting moments to fans across the globe. On April 14, 2025, the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow hosted a classic showdown between the Lucknow Super Giants vs Chennai Super Kings Match Scorecard in the 30th match of IPL 2025. It was a match that had everything—grit, drama, and a heart-stopping finish. Let’s dive into the details of this exciting clash, break down the scorecard, and relive the moments that made it unforgettable.

The Build-Up to the Match

Lucknow was buzzing with energy as fans poured into the Ekana Stadium, a venue known for its lively atmosphere and passionate crowd. LSG, led by the dynamic Rishabh Pant, were coming off a strong run with three consecutive wins, sitting comfortably at fourth in the points table. On the other hand, CSK, under the legendary MS Dhoni, were in a rough patch, having lost their last five matches and desperately needing a win to boost their campaign. The stage was set for an epic battle, with LSG aiming to capitalize on their home advantage and CSK looking to turn their fortunes around.

The toss was a crucial moment. MS Dhoni, CSK’s captain, won it and chose to bowl first, banking on the possibility of dew making batting easier in the second innings. The pitch at Ekana had been unpredictable in IPL 2025—sometimes favoring batters early on, sometimes slowing down as the game progressed. With warm temperatures of 29°C, 40% humidity, and no chance of rain, conditions were perfect for an uninterrupted game.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Innings: A Competitive Total

LSG’s batting line-up, featuring a mix of experience and youth, took to the crease with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opening the innings. The home side got off to a shaky start when Markram fell for just 6 runs, caught by Rahul Tripathi off Khaleel Ahmed in the first over. Nicholas Pooran, known for his explosive batting, joined Marsh but was dismissed for 8, trapped lbw by Anshul Kamboj. At 23/2 after 3.6 overs, LSG were in a spot of bother.

Rishabh Pant, the captain, walked in with a point to prove. Alongside Marsh, he steadied the ship, putting on a 50-run partnership for the third wicket in just 32 balls. Marsh contributed a solid 30 off 25 balls, including two fours and two sixes, before Ravindra Jadeja bowled him out. Pant, however, was the anchor, playing a captain’s knock of 63 off 49 balls, with four fours and four sixes. His innings was a blend of caution and aggression, though he faced criticism for playing too many dot balls, which slowed LSG’s momentum at times.

Ayush Badoni (22 off 17) and Abdul Samad (20 off 11) provided quick cameos, with Samad’s two sixes injecting life into the innings. However, CSK’s bowlers, led by Jadeja (2/24 in 3 overs) and Matheesha Pathirana (2/45 in 4 overs), kept things tight. A late run-out of Samad and Pant’s dismissal in the 19th over left LSG at 158/6. Shardul Thakur’s departure for 6 in the final over meant LSG finished at 166/7 in their 20 overs, a competitive but slightly below-par total on a pitch that was expected to improve for batting later due to dew.

LSG Batting Scorecard

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Dismissal
Aiden Markram	6	6	1	0	100.00	c Tripathi b Khaleel Ahmed
Mitchell Marsh	30	25	2	2	120.00	b Ravindra Jadeja
Nicholas Pooran	8	9	2	0	88.89	lbw b Anshul Kamboj
Rishabh Pant (c, wk)	63	49	4	4	128.57	c Dhoni b Matheesha Pathirana
Ayush Badoni	22	17	1	2	129.41	st Dhoni b Ravindra Jadeja
Abdul Samad	20	11	0	2	181.82	run out (Dhoni)
David Miller	0	0	0	0	–	not out
Shardul Thakur	6	4	1	0	150.00	c Shaik Rasheed b Pathirana
Extras	11	(b 1, lb 1, w 8, nb 1)
Total	166/7	(20.0 overs, RR: 8.30)

Did Not Bat: Avesh Khan, Akash Deep, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi
Fall of Wickets: 6/1 (Markram, 0.6), 23/2 (Pooran, 3.6), 73/3 (Marsh, 9.3), 105/4 (Badoni, 13.4), 158/5 (Samad, 19.1), 158/6 (Pant, 19.2), 166/7 (Thakur, 19.6)
Bowling: Ravindra Jadeja 2/24 (3), Matheesha Pathirana 2/45 (4), Khaleel Ahmed 1/30 (4), Anshul Kamboj 1/34 (4), Noor Ahmad 0/29 (4), Jamie Overton 0/4 (1)

Chennai Super Kings’ Chase: A Rocky Start, A Fiery Finish

Chasing 167, CSK needed a strong start to break their losing streak. Openers Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra delivered just that, racing to 45/0 in four overs. Rasheed, making his IPL debut, looked confident with 27 off 17 balls, smashing six boundaries. Ravindra, with 37 off 22, played some cracking shots, including consecutive boundaries off Shardul Thakur. However, LSG’s spinners struck back. Ravi Bishnoi, brought on as an Impact Substitute, dismissed Rasheed, and Ravindra fell to Digvesh Rathi, leaving CSK at 74/2 after 8 overs.

Rahul Tripathi’s brief stay ended at 9, and Ravindra Jadeja, promoted to No. 4, struggled to accelerate. Vijay Shankar’s departure for 17 left CSK wobbling at 111/5 in 15 overs. With 56 runs needed off the last five overs, the game was in the balance, and the Lucknow crowd sensed a chance for their team to pull ahead.

Enter MS Dhoni. The CSK captain, known for his cool-headedness in clutch moments, walked out to a roaring crowd. Alongside Shivam Dube, who was on 26 off 30 balls and struggling to find rhythm, Dhoni turned the game on its head. In the 18th over, he smashed a back-of-a-length delivery from Shardul Thakur for a one-handed six over mid-wicket, igniting the stadium. Dube, inspired by Dhoni’s aggression, found his groove, steering a wide full toss for a boundary. The pair put on a match-winning 57-run stand for the sixth wicket, with Dhoni’s 26* off 11 balls (including two fours and a six) earning him the Player of the Match award.

With 24 runs needed off the last two overs, Shardul Thakur’s horror night continued as he bowled a high full toss called a no-ball, which Dube dispatched for six. In the 19th over, Dube sealed the chase with a boundary off a full-length delivery, guiding CSK to 168/5 in 19.3 overs, winning by five wickets with three balls to spare.

CSK Batting Scorecard

Batter	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate	Dismissal
Shaik Rasheed	27	17	6	0	158.82	c & b Ravi Bishnoi
Rachin Ravindra	37	22	5	1	168.18	lbw b Digvesh Rathi
Rahul Tripathi	9	10	1	0	90.00	c Badoni b Ravi Bishnoi
Ravindra Jadeja	17	15	1	0	113.33	c Pant b Avesh Khan
Vijay Shankar	17	16	2	0	106.25	c Miller b Digvesh Rathi
Shivam Dube	43	37	3	1	116.22	not out
MS Dhoni (c, wk)	26	11	2	1	236.36	not out
Extras	9	(b 0, lb 3, w 5, nb 1)
Total	168/5	(19.3 overs, RR: 8.62)

Did Not Bat: Jamie Overton, Anshul Kamboj, Noor Ahmad, Khaleel Ahmed, Matheesha Pathirana
Fall of Wickets: 52/1 (Rasheed, 4.5), 74/2 (Ravindra, 7.6), 76/3 (Tripathi, 8.5), 96/4 (Jadeja, 12.2), 111/5 (Shankar, 14.6)
Bowling: Ravi Bishnoi 2/18 (3), Digvesh Rathi 1/23 (4), Avesh Khan 1/40 (3.3), Akash Deep 1/32 (4), Shardul Thakur 0/50 (4), Abdul Samad 0/5 (1)

Key Moments and Turning Points

1. Early Wickets for CSK: Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj’s early strikes put LSG on the back foot at 23/2, setting the tone for a disciplined bowling performance.

2. Pant’s Fifty: Rishabh Pant’s 63 was the backbone of LSG’s innings, but his slow scoring rate at times cost them a bigger total.

3. CSK’s Powerplay Blitz: Shaik Rasheed and Rachin Ravindra’s aggressive start (45/0 in 4 overs) gave CSK a platform, though LSG’s spinners pulled things back.

4. Dhoni-Dube Partnership: The 57-run stand in the final overs, with Dhoni’s explosive 26* off 11, was the game-changer, turning a tricky chase into a victory.

5. Shardul’s Struggles: Shardul Thakur’s expensive spell (0/50 in 4 overs), including a no-ball six, tilted the game in CSK’s favor.

Post-Match Reflections

Rishabh Pant admitted LSG were 10–15 runs short, citing frequent wicket losses as a reason for their inability to accelerate. He praised his bowlers for pulling things back after CSK’s strong start but rued the decision not to use Ravi Bishnoi (2/18 in 3 overs) at the death. MS Dhoni, the Player of the Match, highlighted the confidence boost from the win, noting that CSK’s batting had struggled on slower pitches but performed better on quicker surfaces like Ekana. Shivam Dube, who anchored the chase, emphasized the importance of ending CSK’s five-match losing streak.

The match also showcased the crowd’s love for Dhoni, with even the Lucknow fans cheering wildly for his late heroics. The victory moved CSK off the bottom of the points table, giving them their second win in seven games, while LSG remained in fourth with four wins from seven.

The Bigger Picture

This match was a testament to the IPL’s unpredictability. LSG’s competitive total wasn’t enough against a determined CSK side, who found their spark through Dhoni’s magic and Dube’s composure. The game highlighted the importance of adaptability on a pitch that changed behavior due to dew and the need for bowlers to hold their nerve in crunch moments. For fans, it was a reminder of why the IPL remains the world’s most exciting T20 league—every ball can change the game, and every player, from debutants like Shaik Rasheed to veterans like Dhoni, has a role to play.