In true ‘Lord’ fashion, Shardul Thakur once again delivered a moment of chaos and redemption in the 21st match of IPL 2025 between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on April 8. The LSG pacer, known for his unpredictability, went from villain to hero within the span of a single over.
Tasked with bowling the 13th over during KKR’s aggressive run chase, Thakur started disastrously — sending down five consecutive wides. Attempting wide yorkers, the ball repeatedly missed the mark, sailing well outside off and drawing visible frustration from skipper Rishabh Pant behind the stumps.
With Eden Gardens buzzing and Pant visibly exasperated, it looked like Shardul was crumbling under pressure. However, he turned the script around with a moment of brilliance on the final delivery of that same over. A full toss surprised Ajinkya Rahane — who was well-set on 61 off 35 balls — and the KKR captain ended up offering a catch, handing Thakur a vital breakthrough and a sigh of relief to his skipper.
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Remarkably, Shardul Thakur’s over became one for the record books. He bowled 11 deliveries in total, equaling the record for the longest over in IPL history. He also matched the dubious feat of bowling the most wides (five) in a single over — a record previously held by Mohammed Siraj.
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Despite the drama, Thakur’s knack for pulling off crucial wickets under pressure continues to add layers to his unpredictable charm. Once again, the ‘Lord’ found a way to leave his mark.
Earlier in the game, Mitchell Marsh continued his dominant form with a scintillating 81, while Nicholas Pooran went ballistic with an unbeaten 87 off just 36 balls — his best in the IPL. With Aiden Markram chipping in with 47, LSG posted a daunting 238/3.
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KKR’s bowling unit had no answers, and the decision to bring back Spencer Johnson backfired as he leaked runs yet again. With 239 to chase — their highest-ever target at Eden Gardens — KKR face an uphill task. The stage is set, the odds are high, and their top order must rise to the challenge or risk facing their second home defeat of the season.
