There are IPL matches, and then there are IPL epics. Match 19 of TATA IPL 2025 was one of the season’s best, leaving fans gasping and on the edge of their seats till the last ball.
Under the Eden Gardens lights, Lucknow Super Giants held their nerve to win by four runs over Kolkata Knight Riders in a game that was equal parts fireworks and edge-of-the-seat drama.
But did they win it or did KKR throw it away? The evening began with a buzz in the air—this wasn’t just another game, it was a rescheduled game with extra pressure.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and to the delight of the home crowd, chose to bowl first.
It looked like a good call in the initial overs as Vaibhav Arora bowled a tight first over. But that calm was short lived.
Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram got into the groove quickly, punishing loose balls and building a solid opening stand. Despite Arora’s economy, LSG raced to 59/0 in the powerplay.
Markram who had played second fiddle in earlier games, stepped up this time with some beautiful and assertive stroke play.
He fell just short of a fifty, bowled by Harshit Rana for 47 off 28. But the real fireworks were yet to come.
Marsh kept the momentum going with his 4th fifty of the season and then handed it over to Nicholas Pooran who turned the game on its head.
Pooran’s 87* off 36 balls was nothing short of brutal—highlighted by a merciless assault on fellow West Indian Andre Russell, smashing him for 24 runs in one over.
By the time LSG finished at 238/3, it was their second highest total in IPL history. A big ask for KKR.
But KKR to their credit, came out swinging. Quinton de Kock started aggressively before falling to Akash Deep.
Then came the partnership that almost rewrote the script. Rahane and Sunil Narine batted with controlled aggression, taking KKR to 90/1 at the end of the powerplay—their second best ever.
Narine’s 30 off 13 was brief but brutal and Rahane looked in sublime form as he reached a 26 ball fifty.
Enter Digvesh Rathi, LSG’s uncapped find, who got Narine with his second ball and opened the game up. Still at 129/2 after 10 overs, KKR were cruising.
That’s when the momentum shifted. Shardul Thakur in his 100th IPL game had a rollercoaster of an over—five wides, a boundary and then the crucial wicket of Rahane.
What followed was a collapse: Bishnoi, Avesh Khan and Akash Deep ran through the middle order, taking four wickets in 15 balls. KKR from 162/2 were suddenly 177/6.
But if you thought the drama was over, you don’t know Rinku Singh. Along with Russell initially and then alone, Rinku gave LSG a serious fright.
With 4 needed off the last ball, he got it down to 5 with 2 fours and 1 six. Bishnoi, ice in his veins, bowled the last ball perfectly—4 runs.
The numbers were crazy, but the emotions even crazier. Pooran’s innings will be remembered as one of the most brutal of the season.
Marsh is still the engine of LSG’s top order. For KKR, Rahane’s calm aggression and Narine’s short cameo gave them the perfect start.
But lack of middle order composure and not being able to absorb pressure in key moments hurt them big time.
This match raised a few questions: Can KKR afford to be this top heavy? Are they relying too much on Rinku to pull off miracles?
And for LSG—do they finally have the finishing formula right with a balanced batting order and bowling variety?
In the end the score says LSG won the two points but the bigger winner here was the IPL fanbase.
High scores, big hitting, strategic bowling and a final ball finish—this game had it all. And if this is what we’re getting just three weeks into the season, what’s to come might be even more epic.
