IPL 2025, KKR vs LSG, Highlights: LSG’s top order outclassed KKR on their home turf as they climbed to 4th place on the points table. Top hits & flops from the game.
Brief scores: LSG 238/3 (Nicholas Pooran 87*, Harshit Rana 2/51) beat KKR by 4 runs (Ajinkya Rahane 61, Shardul Thakur 2/52)
After winning the toss, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chose to bowl against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). In a high-scoring clash between both the teams, it was the Lucknow top order that stole the show with a dominant batting performance.
Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran led the charge, dismantling the KKR bowling attack with ruthless efficiency. KKR’s bowlers had no answers, conceding boundaries at will and failing to break partnerships. The onslaught saw LSG pile up a massive total, putting KKR under immense pressure right from the start.
Hits from KKR vs LSG game
LSG top order continue to fire
Mitchell Marsh continued his brilliant form in IPL 2025 with a commanding knock of 81 off 48 balls against KKR, reinforcing his status as one of the most dominant batters this season. Displaying a perfect mix of power and timing, Marsh led LSG’s charge with authoritative stroke play, finding boundaries with ease and anchoring the innings when needed.
This innings took his total to 265 runs with a strike rate of 180.27 in the tournament so far, making him the Orange Cap holder before his own teammate eclipsed him later in the game. His consistency at the top has been vital for LSG, providing strong starts and match-winning momentum almost every time he steps out to bat.
Aiden Markram played a crucial supporting role in LSG’s batting performance against KKR, scoring a fluent 47 off 28 balls. Walking in at a key juncture, Markram kept the scoreboard ticking with sharp running and well-timed strokes, maintaining pressure on the bowlers and setting the stage for a strong finish.
Though not in the Orange Cap race yet, his contributions have been quietly effective, offering balance in the middle order and helping LSG maintain their momentum in the innings. His composed knock against KKR highlighted his value as a stabiliser and aggressor rolled into one. Markram has so far scored 144 runs in the tournament with a strike rate of 142.57.
Read More: IPL 2025, LSG vs MI, Hits & Flops: Markram return to form, Lucknow bowling big pluses
Nicholas Pooran lit up the match against KKR with an explosive unbeaten 87 off just 36 balls, delivering one of the most thrilling knocks of IPL 2025 so far. His carnage in the death overs included a flurry of sixes and fours, completely dismantling the KKR bowling attack and taking the game away in emphatic fashion.
With this stunning performance, Pooran surged to the top of the Orange Cap standings with 288 runs holding a strike rate of 225 in the tournament, overtaking teammate Mitchell Marsh. His form has been nothing short of sensational, and his ability to finish innings with such power makes him LSG’s ultimate game-changer this season.
Going…Going…GONE! 🚀
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 8, 2025
Raining sixes in Kolkata courtesy of Nicholas Pooran 💪
He brings up a 21-ball 5️⃣0️⃣ 🤯
Updates ▶ https://t.co/3bQPKnwPTU#TATAIPL | #KKRvLSG | @nicholas_47 pic.twitter.com/GYxDjAQSMX
Flops from KKR vs LSG game
KKR bowling unit need to have a deeper look
The Kolkata Knight Riders’ bowling unit had a night to forget in their clash against LSG, as they were taken apart by a dominant batting display. With none of the frontline bowlers able to contain the flow of runs, KKR conceded well over 200 runs, and the bowling figures reflect the lack of control and effectiveness.
Spencer Johnson and Andre Russell were the most expensive, with Johnson leaking 46 runs in just 3 overs at an economy of 15.30 and Russell conceding 32 in just 2 overs at 16.00. Sunil Narine, usually a reliable performer, went for 38 runs in his 3 overs with an economy of 12.70, showing that even the experienced campaigners struggled to grip the game.
Among the bowlers, only Harshit Rana managed to pick up wickets, finishing with figures of 4-0-51-2, but even his economy rate of 12.80 highlighted the tough night for bowlers. Vaibhav Arora and Varun Chakravarthy, who have previously shown glimpses of control, were wicketless and unable to build pressure. Varun being the most economical of the lot at 7.80 runs per over, yet still unable to provide a breakthrough. KKR’s bowling lacked variation, discipline, and bite, which Nicholas Pooran, Mitchell Marsh, and Aiden Markram capitalised on with ease.
This performance is a clear signal that KKR need to reassess their bowling strategies, possibly reconsidering their death-over plans and execution under pressure. Their inability to pick up wickets regularly or stem the run flow has been a concern, and without a quick fix, their campaign could spiral. The team management might need to explore rotation options or tactical changes before the next outing to avoid another onslaught like this.
Read More: IPL 2025, KKR vs SRH: Kolkata win on back of middle order exploits & Vaibhav Arora’s crucial strikes
KKR’s lower order and strategic missteps continue to hurt
KKR’s struggles in IPL 2025 aren’t limited to their bowling, their lower middle order has been equally disappointing, raising serious questions around team strategy and player utilisation. Big names like Andre Russell and Rinku Singh have failed to live up to expectations, contributing little with the bat when the team needed them the most.
Russell, once a game-changing finisher, has managed just 10 runs across 3 innings, offering no real impact down the order. Rinku Singh, despite being in India’s plans and typically playing at No. 4 or 5 at the international level, has only scored 61 runs in 3 innings for KKR and is often sent in too late to influence the game meaningfully.
One of the major strategic failures has been the poor use of players like Rinku Singh and Andre Russell, who could offer explosive cameos and steady the innings as well. A better approach could be slotting Rinku at No. 4 and Andre Russell at No. 6, creating a more flexible middle order that adapts to match situations rather than sticking to rigid plans. The overdependence on the top order is starting to show, and unless KKR rethink their middle-order strategy and get more out of their seasoned finishers, their campaign could continue to stumble.
Read More: Tracing Digvesh Rathi’s journey: From Delhi Premier League 2024 to playing for LSG in IPL 2025
Way forward
The win has propelled the Lucknow Super Giants to the fourth position on the points table, giving them crucial momentum as the tournament progresses. Their top-order firepower, especially the form of Marsh and Pooran, has become their biggest asset, and with a bit more consistency from the bowling unit, they look well on track for a strong playoff push.
On the other hand, the Kolkata Knight Riders have slipped to the sixth place after this loss, and it’s clear that both their bowling execution and lower-order batting strategy need urgent attention. For KKR to bounce back, they must rethink their batting order, maximise the potential of players like Rinku Singh and Ramandeep Singh, and get their experienced stars like Andre Russell back to firing form.
Top Twitter Reactions from KKR vs LSG, Kolkata, IPL 2025
KKR needs to avoid taking right-left theory too seriously. When chasing 239, you can't play Rusell at No.7 and Rinku at No. 8. Way too late for your big hitters. #KKRvsLSG
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 8, 2025
KKR will look back at the match with disappointment. Stiff target, yet looked on course for a win but losing 4 wickets for just 15 runs allowed LSG to turn the match in their favour. Fine effort by the bowlers to contain KKR’s string batting on a flat track and short boundaries
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 8, 2025
Maybe the best batters should go in first, whether they are left handers or righthanders
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 8, 2025
Read More: IPL 2025: INR 27 cr pick Rishabh Pant proving to be a bid gone wrong for LSG?
