Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) pulled off a clinical victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2025 IPL, earning high praise from New Zealand veteran Kane Williamson. He commended LSG’s execution, calling it a textbook display of precision bowling and game awareness. Opting to bowl first, LSG’s bowlers, led by Shardul Thakur, restricted SRH to 190/9—a total that proved below par.
Shardul Thakur’s four-wicket haul set the tone, while Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh’s explosive fifties ensured a comfortable five-wicket chase at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Kane Williamson highlighted how well-prepared LSG was for the Hyderabad challenge.
“It’s one of the toughest assignments—to take on SRH at their home ground. But LSG executed their plans with courage. They bowled full and straight, attacking the yorker length. Even when they missed slightly, they didn’t allow SRH to control the game,” he said on JioHotstar.
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He also credited LSG’s leadership for a well-thought-out approach. “The planning and execution were spot on. They never let SRH settle, and that made all the difference,” Kane Williamson added.
For Thakur, it was a statement performance. The late addition to LSG, replacing the injured Mohsin Khan, reached the milestone of 100 IPL wickets. His 4/34 spell saw him remove key batters—Abhishek Sharma (6), Ishan Kishan (0), Abhinav Manohar (2), and Mohammed Shami (1). His impactful bowling earned him the Player of the Match award.
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Kane Williamson was particularly impressed with Thakur’s immediate impact. “He’s an experienced international player, and opening the bowling in Hyderabad isn’t easy. But he stuck to the team’s strategy and executed it brilliantly. His variety and control made a huge difference,” he said.
LSG’s disciplined bowling, spearheaded by Thakur, laid the foundation for a well-earned victory, proving once again that in T20 cricket, smart execution often trumps star power.
