New Delhi: 

Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen played starring roles with the bat as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) hammered Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by six wickets at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Monday to knock them out of the race for the playoffs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

SRH rode on impressive knocks from Abhishek and Klaasen to chase down the target of 206 runs comfortably with 10 balls to spare to register a thumping victory.

Lucknow Super Giants out of playoffs race:

Rishabh Pant-led Lucknow Super Giants endured another disappointing night to bow out of the race for the playoffs in IPL 2025, becoming the fourth team after Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders to crash out. LSG had their fate in their hand heading into the clash against SRH, but the six-wicket defeat confirmed their exit.

With three teams already in the playoffs, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals will now fight for the final remaining spot in the top four. On Monday, LSG rode on two exceptional half-centuries from openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, and a finishing cameo from Nicholas Pooran to post a strong total of 205 runs on the board, batting first in the game.

Mitchell Marsh top-scored with a 39-ball 65 while Markram smashed 61 off 38 balls as the duo added 115 runs for the first wicket, getting LSG off to a brilliant start. However, their innings got derailed after the duo’s departure as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. However, Pooran’s 26-ball 45 helped the hosts cross the 200-run mark in the end.

LSG bowlers were expected to produce a strong fight to defend the total in the must-win clash, but they failed to do so as SRH cruised to victory after a strong start from Abhishek. LSG suffered their seventh defeat of the season as they remain in the 7th spot on the points table with 10 points after 12 matches. They will take on the Gujarat Titans and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in their final two matches of the season.

Rishabh Pant’s disastrous season hurt LSG

Skipper Rishabh Pant’s disastrous campaign in IPL 2025 played a huge role in LSG’s failure to make it to the playoffs. Pant was the record buy in the IPL mega auction last year after LSG splurged a whopping Rs 27 crore on the wicket-keeper batter. However, he failed to step up as a batter and a captain to guide LSG to the playoffs this season.

While his leadership has been questionable, Pant’s poor show with the bat hurt LSG’s chances badly. The left-hander has managed only 135 runs in 12 matches this season at an abysmal average of 12.27, including a solitary half-century. He was expected to do the bulk of run-scoring for LSG this season, but failed to deliver consistently as his team bowed out of the playoff race after a poor campaign.

Abhishek slammed a quickfire 59 off 20 balls, while Klaasen scored 47 off 28 balls as the duo anchored SRH’s chase to perfection. In the absence of Travis Head, Abhishek stepped up in the 206-run chase to get SRH off to a flying start. The left-hander opened the batting with Atharva Taide, but the duo could add only 17 runs for the first wicket.

New Zealand pacer William O’Rourke dismissed Taide cheaply on 13 to draw the first blood for LSG. However, Abhishek continued his aggressive approach on the other end to race to his fifty in just 17 balls, helping SRH capitalise on the Powerplay. Abhishek smashed a hat-trick of sixes against Ravi Bishnoi in the 7th over to complete his fifty.

Spinner Digvesh Rathi put the brakes on Abhishek’s innings after dismissing him on 59 in the next over. Rathi and Abhishek were also involved in a heated clash on the field following the LSG spinner’s ‘signature’ celebration.

Abhishek’s 59 off 20 was laced with six sixes and 4 fours as he took the LSG bowlers to the cleaners to set the stage for a successful chase for SRH with a crucial 82-run stand for the third wicket with Ishan Kishan, who scored 35 off 28 balls.

After Abhishek’s departure, Klaasen took control of SRH’s chase and helped them get over the line comfortably with his 28-ball 47 studded with 4 fours and a six.

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