IPL2025: Marsh scripts dazzling 117 as LSG surprised GT by 33 runs

 

Lucknow Super Giants who are already out of playoffs defeated the table-toppers Gujarat Titans at their own fortress. Shubman Gill and his men stumbled at a crucial moment—had they won, their path to finishing in the top two would have been much smoother. But this defeat has put a dent in Gujarat’s winning momentum.

Gujarat has turned their home ground into a fortress. The final of this year’s IPL will also be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a venue known as a paradise for batters, with average scores often crossing 200. Chasing big totals is rarely an issue here, and Thursday's game followed the same script.

For Lucknow, the bulk of their runs this season have come from Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, and Nicholas Pooran—all among the top contenders for the Orange Cap. When they have failed, the team has struggled. But once again, they delivered in Ahmedabad. Gujarat’s pacers, especially the Indian contingent, have been impressive this season. Mohammed Siraj has been effective with the new ball, and Prasidh Krishna has consistently performed in the middle overs. Krishna currently holds the Purple Cap. However, even the best bowlers lose their rhythm under pressure, and that was evident in this match. In hindsight, missing the playoffs may have freed Lucknow of pressure—allowing them to play with freedom and joy, and to leave the tournament with a lasting impression. And they did just that.

Mitchell Marsh created history in this match, scoring his first IPL century. It was a dazzling knock with shots played all around  including his pulls & staight drives.   It was also the first century by a foreign batter in this season. Interestingly, all previous centuries this season had come from Indian batters. Marsh broke that streak. Pooran, too, found form and looked like his vintage self as hr played explosive shots . Powered by their explosive innings, Lucknow posted a massive total of 235—their second-highest of the season.

Yet, despite scoring 235, Lucknow remained cautious—thanks to Gujarat’s dangerous opening pair. Just days ago, at this very venue, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan had chased down 201 runs against Delhi. Both currently sit atop the Orange Cap standings. Pant knew that once the pair settled in, even 235 might not be enough. That’s why he aimed to break the opening partnership within the Powerplay—and succeeded.

Lucknow’s bowling attack is heavily reliant on Indian pacers, and one of them stood out in this match—Aakash Maharaj Singh. Even with a bandaged hand due to injury, he bowled out Jos Buttler. In cricket, they say "catches win matches," and Lucknow’s fielders proved that true. The dismissals of Sudharsan (21) and Gill (35) were more about fielding brilliance than bowling. Had they not been taken early, the result could have òļoòòò very different.

Gujarat’s success this season has largely been built on the performances of their top three batters. A quick glance at the Orange Cap list shows Sai Sudharsan (638), Shubman Gill (636), and Jos Buttler (533) all in the top ranks. Typically, at least one of them bats until the 16th or 17th over. Their early dismissals raised concerns—and those concerns turned real. Though Sharfane Rutherford (38) and a belligerent Shahrukh Khan (59) put up a fight, Gujarat fell short in chasing 236 by 33 runs . ORourke the tall fast bowler of LSG from New Zealand claimed 3/27.  This loss serves as a lesson for the Gill-led side. Moreover, it may affect their chances of finishing in the top two. If Punjab and Bangalore win their remaining games, Gujarat could miss out on playing the first qualifier.