KKR vs LSG Highlights | Nicholas Pooran Powers Lucknow Super Giants to 4-Run Win | IPL 2025 | 21 st Match

KKR vs LSG IPL 2025: Nicholas Pooran’s Blitz Powers Lucknow Super Giants to High-Voltage Victory

Summary
In a high-octane thriller at Eden Gardens, Lucknow Super Giants edged out Kolkata Knight Riders by 4 runs in Match 21 of IPL 2025. Nicholas Pooran’s explosive 87 off 36* powered LSG to 238/3. Despite a valiant chase led by Rahane and Rinku Singh, KKR fell agonizingly short at 234/7. The match featured a staggering 472 runs, making it one of the most entertaining contests of the season.

Scorecard

Lucknow Super Giants – 238/3 (20 overs)

• Nicholas Pooran 87* (36), Mitchell Marsh 81 (48)

• Harshit Rana 4-0-51-1, Andre Russell 2-0-32-1

Kolkata Knight Riders – 234/7 (20 overs)

• Ajinkya Rahane 61 (35), Rinku Singh 38* (15)

• Akash Deep 4-0-52-2, Shardul Thakur 4-0-52-2

Result: Lucknow Super Giants won by 4 runs
Player of the Match: Nicholas Pooran

In what was undoubtedly one of the most exhilarating matches of the Indian Premier League 2025, Lucknow Super Giants edged past Kolkata Knight Riders by four runs in a high-scoring contest at Eden Gardens. This clash, the 21st match of the tournament, will be remembered not only for its 472-run aggregate but also for the audacious batting displays, especially from Nicholas Pooran, whose innings transformed the game.

LSG vs KKR 2025 was more than just a cricket match it was a pulse-racing encounter that delivered pure entertainment for fans and plenty to reflect upon for both coaching staff.

Nicholas Pooran Turns Up the Heat at Eden

After being sent in to bat by KKR, Lucknow Super Giants raced to 238 for 3 in their 20 overs. The headline act was Nicholas Pooran, who unleashed a whirlwind 87 not out off just 36 deliveries. The Caribbean left-hander dismantled Kolkata’s bowling attack with surgical precision and brute force, smashing 7 sixes and 6 boundaries at a staggering strike rate of 241.67.

Pooran’s acceleration in the death overs, particularly between overs 16 to 20, gave LSG the final push from a competitive total to a daunting one. His unbeaten knock earned him the well-deserved Player of the Match award, further solidifying his reputation as one of the most explosive finishers in T20 cricket today.

Marsh and Markram Lay the Platform for Pooran’s Onslaught

Earlier, Mitchell Marsh (81 off 48) and Aiden Markram (47 off 28) built a robust foundation with a 99-run opening stand. The duo navigated the powerplay efficiently and punished anything short or overpitched. Markram’s ability to pick gaps and Marsh’s big-hitting fluency ensured LSG maintained a healthy run rate, setting up the perfect platform for Pooran to launch in the second half of the innings.

The only moment of respite for KKR’s bowlers came with Andre Russell’s clever slower ball that deceived Marsh in the 16th over. But by then, the damage had been done.

KKR’s Chase: Brave, Bold, But Just Short

Chasing 239 at Eden Gardens was never going to be easy, but Kolkata Knight Riders gave it a real shot, finishing at 234 for 7 just four runs short. It was a match that tested every batter’s intent, and KKR responded with firepower from both ends of the batting lineup.

The opening partnership between Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine set the tone with aggressive stroke play. Narine, continuing his renaissance as a T20 batter, cracked a quickfire 30 off 13 balls, while Rahane’s 61 off 35 offered a blend of calm and chaos, keeping the required rate within touching distance.

But as KKR approached the middle overs, the game began slipping through their fingers. Ramandeep Singh’s duck and Venkatesh Iyer’s slow dismissal for 45 off 29 disrupted the momentum just when they needed to launch.

Rinku Singh Nearly Pulls Off a Miracle

With the game seemingly slipping away, Rinku Singh came in and reignited the contest with a stunning 38 not out off just 15 balls. His clean hitting, which included 3 fours and 3 sixes, brought KKR back into contention in the final two overs. Alongside Harshit Rana, who added 10 not out, Rinku nearly orchestrated a comeback that would have rivaled his IPL 2023 heroics.

Needing 20 off the final over, Rinku managed to smash a couple of boundaries but couldn’t quite finish the job as LSG’s bowling held their nerve.

LSG’s Bowling Holds On Amidst the Chaos

In a game where bowlers were cannon fodder, Lucknow Super Giants did just enough to hang on. Akash Deep emerged as the unlikely hero, bagging 2 for 55 and providing crucial breakthroughs. Shardul Thakur, though expensive, picked up key wickets of Rahane and Russell, disrupting KKR’s backbone.

Youngster Digvesh Singh Rathi impressed with his control under pressure, removing Narine in the powerplay. While LSG’s bowlers went the distance, they stuck to their plans just enough to edge out a victory one that could have massive implications for the points table and net run rate later in the season.

What This Match Tells Us About Both Teams

For Lucknow, this win reinforces their identity as an aggressive, free-scoring unit with multiple match-winners in their batting order. Nicholas Pooran’s form continues to be a towering presence in the middle order, while Marsh and Markram offer composure and class at the top.

However, their bowling needs tightening. Conceding 234 despite a 238-run cushion is a red flag, particularly when knockout matches often hinge on execution under pressure.

For KKR, this loss is a bitter pill to swallow. While the batting nearly pulled off the impossible, the bowling unit looked toothless against quality opposition. Russell and Narine were serviceable, but the rest struggled to contain the onslaught. KKR’s inability to defend the boundaries or break key partnerships early remains a concern going forward.