Gujarat Titans’ rare top-order and bowling failure hands LSG a convincing win. Is this a way to win against Gujarat?
On May 22, 2025, the Gujarat Titans (GT) suffered a setback in their quest for a top-two finish in the IPL 2025 standings. They were defeated by the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 33 runs in the 64th match of the season. The match took place at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
LSG’s dominant batting display
LSG set a formidable target of 236 runs, finishing at 235/2 in their 20 overs. Mitchell Marsh led the charge with a blistering 117 runs off 64 balls, marking his maiden IPL century and becoming the first overseas player to achieve this feat in the 2025 season. Nicholas Pooran supported with an unbeaten 56, anchoring the innings effectively. For Gujarat Titans, Arshad Khan and Sai Kishore picked up a wicket each.
This innings from Marsh was not just about power hitting, it was a showcase of intelligent batting and exploitation of gaps in GT’s field placements. His ability to rotate the strike in the middle overs while accelerating at the death proved too much for GT’s bowlers. Pooran, on the other hand, provided stability and ensured that LSG never lost momentum, finishing the innings with a flurry of boundaries. The 148-run partnership between Marsh and Pooran underlined LSG’s batting dominance and left GT chasing shadows.
Read More: What makes Sai Sudharsan a complete opener?
GT’s top order collapse
Chasing 236, GT’s top order, which had been their strength throughout the season, failed to deliver. Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who had been instrumental in previous matches, were dismissed for 21 and 35 runs, respectively. The middle order couldn’t recover from the early setbacks, and GT managed to score only 202/9 in their 20 overs. Shahrukh Khan top-scored with 57 runs, while Sherfane Rutherford contributed 38 runs. LSG’s bowling attack, led by Avesh Khan and Will O’Rourke, maintained pressure throughout, with Will O’Rourke taking 3 wickets for 27 runs.
The lack of a solid foundation meant GT’s innings never truly got going. Gill and Sudharsan’s early exits sapped the momentum, forcing the middle order to play a high-risk game. Despite valiant efforts from Shahrukh and Rutherford, the required run rate kept escalating. Shahrukh showed glimpses of brilliance, hitting four sixes during his quickfire knock, but without support from the top, it proved too little, too late. The pressure from LSG’s bowlers resulted in regular wickets, stalling any hopes of a successful chase.
Bowling unit’s underperformance
GT’s bowling unit, which had been effective in previous matches, couldn’t contain LSG’s batters. Mohammed Siraj and Rashid Khan were expensive, conceding runs at over 9.25 and 18 runs per over, respectively. Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, who had been a key performer, took one wicket, giving away 34 runs in just 3 overs.
The Titans’ bowling lacked discipline and execution under pressure. Their usual go-to bowlers, Siraj and Rashid, struggled with line and length, allowing Marsh and Pooran to capitalise. The absence of early breakthroughs only emboldened LSG’s batters, and GT failed to adapt their plans. Sai Kishore, who had impressed in prior outings, looked off-colour, and the lack of variation in his deliveries allowed the opposition to target him effectively. The inability to break the Marsh-Pooran stand sealed GT’s fate, with the bowlers unable to build any pressure or momentum shifts.
Read More: IPL 2025: A season of what ifs for LSG; Where did they go wrong?
Way forward
This defeat highlights the need for GT’s top order and bowling unit to regain their form. With the playoffs approaching, consistency in both batting and bowling will be crucial for GT to secure a favourable position. The team will aim to bounce back in their upcoming matches and strengthen their bid for a top-two finish.
With neither the top order nor the strike bowlers firing, GT looked flat and out of rhythm. It was a rare off-day for a team that usually executes its plans with precision. To bounce back, Gujarat Titans will need both their top-order batters and key bowlers like Krishna and Mohammed Siraj, who has 15 wickets, to rediscover their form and deliver the kind of performances that have taken them to the top in earlier games.
If GT are to bounce back, rediscovering the consistency of their top order, especially the Gill-Sudharsan axis, will be crucial, as their past performances have shown just how vital they are to the team’s success.
Read More: IPL 2025: GT, RCB, PBKS make it to playoffs; What clicked for them this season?
