Lucknow Super Giants Snatch Thrilling 2-Run Victory Over Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur
In a heart-stopping encounter at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on April 19, 2025, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pulled off a dramatic 2-run victory against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the 36th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Avesh Khan’s ice-cold death bowling, defending nine runs in the final over, and Aiden Markram’s anchoring 66 off 45 balls, supported by Abdul Samad’s explosive 30* off 10, powered LSG to their fifth win in eight matches, propelling them to fourth on the points table. RR, despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s valiant 74 off 52 and a blazing debut from 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, slipping to eighth place and deepening their playoff concerns.
LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and opted to bat first, citing a dry pitch and expecting minimal dew to favor the team setting a total. With RR’s regular captain Sanju Samson sidelined due to an abdominal injury, Riyan Parag took the leadership reins, and 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi was named as an Impact Substitute, making history as the youngest IPL debutant. LSG replaced Akash Deep with Prince Yadav, while RR swapped Sandeep Sharma for Suryavanshi in their chase, banking on youthful exuberance to overturn their losing streak.
LSG’s decision to bat first got off to a shaky start, with early wickets pegging them back to 54 for 3 by the 7.4th over. Mitchell Marsh (4 off 5), Nicholas Pooran (8 off 7), and Pant (3 off 5) fell cheaply to RR’s disciplined bowling, led by Wanindu Hasaranga (2 for 31). Aiden Markram, who had struggled earlier in IPL 2025, anchored the innings with a composed 66 off 45, including six fours and two sixes, climbing the Orange Cap charts. His 76-run fourth-wicket stand with Impact Substitute Ayush Badoni (50 off 34) stabilized LSG, with Badoni’s fluent drives and lofts complementing Markram’s measured aggression.
The game-changer came in the final over, when Abdul Samad unleashed a brutal assault on Sandeep Sharma, smashing four sixes in a 27-run over to finish unbeaten on 30 off 10. Samad’s arc between deep square leg and midwicket turned a modest 153 for 5 into a competitive 180 for 5, giving LSG crucial momentum. Pant later reflected, “Samad’s cameo gave us the belief we could defend this.” RR’s bowlers, despite early control, faltered at the death, with Sandeep’s final over proving costly, though Hasaranga, Jofra Archer (1 for 36), and Tushar Deshpande (1 for 26) kept things tight earlier.
RR’s bowling unit was effective for 19 overs, with Hasaranga’s spin and Archer’s pace troubling LSG’s top order. Hasaranga dismissed Pooran and Pant, while Deshpande’s early removal of Marsh set the tone. Maheesh Theekshana (0 for 28) was economical, but Sandeep Sharma’s 20th over, conceding 27 runs, tilted the scales. Riyan Parag, standing in as captain, admitted post-match, “We thought 165-170 was par, but that last over hurt us.” RR’s fielding was sharp, with Dhruv Jurel effecting a diving catch, but their inability to close out the innings proved decisive.
Chasing 181, RR got off to a blazing start, powered by Yashasvi Jaiswal and debutant Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Suryavanshi, at 14 years and 23 days, marked his IPL debut with a stunning six off his first ball from Shardul Thakur, finishing with 34 off 20, including three fours and two sixes. Jaiswal, continuing his purple patch, smashed 74 off 52, with nine fours and a six, guiding RR to 85 for 1 by the 8.4th over. The pair’s 85-run opening stand had RR cruising at 156 for 2 after 17 overs, needing just 25 runs off 18 balls with eight wickets in hand.
Enter Avesh Khan, who turned the game on its head with a sensational 18th over, conceding only five runs and dismissing Jaiswal (caught behind point off a yorker) and Parag (lbw to a reversing full ball) to finish with 3 for 37. Prince Yadav’s fiery 19th over, despite leaking 11 runs to Shimron Hetmyer’s two fours, kept RR to 9 runs needed off the final over. Avesh, entrusted with the last over, delivered pinpoint yorkers, conceding just six runs. Hetmyer’s dismissal, caught by Shardul Thakur at backward square leg, and a fumbled but recovered fielding effort by Avesh on the final ball sealed RR’s fate at 178 for 5. Parag (39 off 26) and Hetmyer (12 off 7) couldn’t finish, leaving RR stunned. Avesh, named Player of the Match, said, “I trusted my yorkers in crunch situations. Thought I broke my hand on that last ball, but it was worth it.”
LSG’s bowling unit, despite missing Mayank Yadav due to Badoni’s Impact Sub role, showed resilience. Avesh Khan’s 3 for 37, including the game-defining 18th and 20th overs, was the highlight, earning praise from Pant: “Avesh was phenomenal. Matches like these build character.” Prince Yadav (0 for 25) and Shardul Thakur (0 for 34) supported with tight spells, while Ravi Bishnoi (0 for 24) and Digvesh Rathi (0 for 30) kept RR’s middle order in check. LSG’s fielding, barring a dropped catch off Suryavanshi, was sharp, with Thakur’s redemption catch proving pivotal.
Rishabh Pant, beaming after the jailbreak, credited his bowlers and Samad’s cameo, stating, “This win can take us to the next level.” Riyan Parag, visibly dejected, took responsibility for RR’s collapse, saying, “I should’ve finished it in the 19th over. We were in control till the 18th.” He praised the pitch, dismissing any excuses, but lamented the 20 runs conceded in LSG’s final over. Shardul Thakur, reflecting on his catch, noted, “I was at the right angle. Avesh and Prince held their nerve brilliantly.” Social media buzzed with fans lauding Avesh’s “Mitchell Starc-like” final over, with one X post calling it “a defensive masterclass”.
LSG’s thrilling win, their fifth in eight matches, earned them 10 points, lifting them to fourth place and strengthening their playoff push. RR’s fourth straight loss left them with two wins from eight games, languishing at eighth and facing a must-win scenario in their upcoming matches. The defeat marked RR’s second heartbreak in a row, having lost a Super Over chase against Delhi Capitals needing nine runs in the final over.
LSG’s improbable heist in Jaipur, driven by Avesh Khan’s nerveless bowling and Samad’s late fireworks, showcased their ability to thrive under pressure. Their next challenge is against Delhi Capitals in Lucknow on April 21, where they’ll aim to maintain their momentum. RR, reeling from consecutive last-over losses, face Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 23, desperately needing a collective 40-over performance to revive their campaign. As IPL 2025 heats up, LSG’s dramatic victory will be remembered as a testament to their fighting spirit, while RR must regroup to salvage their season.
