AI Simulation, IPL 2025 | Marsh-Markram help LSG chase down GT's 183 despite Buttler heroics in Ahmedabad

‌Pitch & Weather

Despite boasting significantly larger dimensions than most IPL venues, the true nature of the pitch in Ahmedabad often makes run scoring a breeze -- the lowest first-innings total at Narendra Modi after five matches this season is 196, with seven innings out of 10 exceeding 180. The circumstances were not much different in Thursday except the ball stuck in the deck at times making shotmaking a riskier proposition but far from impossible.

The weather was equally pleasant for a good day of cricket as temperatures did not soar over 32 degrees Centigrade courtesy of gentle winds throughout, albeit a humidity of 55% did make for some suffering.   

Toss & Conditions

Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and elected to bowl first.

Lineups

GT: Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler (wk), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Arshad Khan, Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna

LSG: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Abdul Samad, Shardul Thakur, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi, Will O'Rourke

Match Report

With nothing at stake for the season except pride, Lucknow Super Giants stitched together one of their stronger performances of the year to stun leaders Gujarat Titans and register their sixth win of IPL 2025. The contest went till the last over as the Titans chased victory knowing a positive result could practically confirm a top-two finish, but no longer have their fates in their hands after succumbing to just their fourth loss in the season. 

Gujarat Titans' record-breaking opening pair of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan began where they had left off in Delhi with their unbeaten double century stand as they went after Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan against the new ball. Were it not for some brilliant outfielding by the visitors, including saving two certain maximums from Sai's bat, the powerplay score would have been much more daunting than 49/0. As soon as the field spread, Rishabh Pant introduced Ravi Bishnoi into the attack and the wily leg-spinner instantly made an impact, scalping both openers in successive overs to leave the hosts in a fix. Nevertheless, the hosts remained unbothered given the presence of Jos Buttler, the Englishman having a habit of playing match-rescuing innings. Thursday was no different as he singlehandedly took the team to 183/7 thereafter with a scintillating knock of 75 from just 50 deliveries, even as wickets kept falling at the other end. Buttler began cautiously, content rotating strike at first, but struck three boundaries and as many maximums across the final five overs before succumbing to Avesh in the final over. 

In response, Aiden Markram and Mitch Marsh seemed to have proving themselves as the best opening pair in the tournament firmly on their agenda as they played little respect to the talents of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj. The Proteas was particularly victimised, conceding 33 runs in his two overs with the new ball to leave LSG brilliantly placed at 80/0 after the powerplay. Like Pant did with Bishnoi, Gill headed straight to Rashid Khan and the Afghan maestro dispatched both Markram and the promoted Ayush Badoni without much ado to seize momentum back for GT. When Pooran also fell shortly after, the tide seemed to have thoroughly shifted, especially with Rishabh Pant walking in amidst an all-time horrid season. The dismissal of Marsh for a 38-ball 64 with 30 runs still to get only made matters worse. However, with the chips down, Pant seemed to rediscover some of his natural flair as he want down on his haunches twice to clear the boundary in the 18th over and practically seal the win, ending up unbeaten on 27 off 15 deliveries.      

Player of the Day

Mitchell Marsh's sixth half-century of the season was pivotal in the Lucknow Super Giants completing their first successful chase in over a month and netted him the man of the match honours.

Scorecard