The Indian Premier League (IPL) is no stranger to nail-biting encounters, but the 21st match of the 2025 season between Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard at Eden Gardens on April 8, 2025, was a spectacle that left cricket fans on the edge of their seats. A total of 472 runs were scored in this high-octane clash, with LSG emerging victorious by a mere 4 runs in a game that swung back and forth like a pendulum. Let’s dive into the details of this unforgettable match, break down the scorecard, and relive the moments that made it a classic.

The Stage is Set

Eden Gardens, Kolkata’s iconic cricket stadium, was buzzing with excitement as KKR, led by Ajinkya Rahane, took on Rishabh Pant’s LSG. KKR, the defending champions, were coming off an 80-run thrashing of SunRisers Hyderabad, while LSG had secured a 12-run victory against Mumbai Indians. Both teams were in fine form, and with a flat pitch and short boundaries, a run-fest was on the cards.

KKR won the toss and elected to field, a decision that seemed logical given the dew factor that often aids chasing teams at Eden Gardens. However, LSG’s batsmen had other plans, setting the stage for a daunting chase.

Lucknow Super Giants’ Batting: A Power-Packed Display

LSG’s innings was a masterclass in aggressive T20 batting. Openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh laid a solid foundation, racing to 59 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket. Their partnership of 99 runs in 10.2 overs gave LSG a dream start. Markram, known for his elegant strokeplay, scored 47 off 28 balls, including 4 fours and 2 sixes, before being cleaned up by Harshit Rana’s searing in-swinger.

Mitchell Marsh took charge after Markram’s departure, hammering 81 off 48 balls with 6 fours and 5 sixes. His ability to find gaps and clear the ropes kept the scoreboard ticking at a brisk pace. However, it was Nicholas Pooran who stole the show. The left-hander played an unbeaten knock of 87 off just 36 balls, smashing 7 fours and 8 sixes at a staggering strike rate of 241.66. Pooran’s onslaught, especially in the death overs, propelled LSG to a formidable 238/3 in 20 overs.

Abdul Samad (6 off 4) and David Miller (4* off 4) played brief cameos, but it was Pooran’s fireworks that ensured LSG set a challenging target. KKR’s bowlers struggled to contain the run flow, with Harshit Rana (2/51) and Andre Russell (1/32) picking up wickets but proving expensive. Vaibhav Arora (0/35) and Varun Chakravarthy (0/31) were relatively economical but couldn’t break through.

Kolkata Knight Riders’ Chase: A Brave but Heartbreaking Effort

Chasing 239 was always going to be a tall order, but KKR came out with guns blazing. Their powerplay was explosive, scoring 90 runs for the loss of just one wicket. Quinton de Kock fell early for 15 off 9 balls, trapped lbw by Akash Deep after a successful review by LSG. Sunil Narine, however, kept the momentum going with a brisk 30 off 13 balls before being caught at long-off off Digvesh Rathi.

Captain Ajinkya Rahane led from the front, scoring a classy 61 off 35 balls, including 8 fours and 2 sixes. His partnership with Venkatesh Iyer (45 off 29) added 71 runs, keeping KKR in the hunt. Rahane’s dismissal in the 13th over, caught by Pooran off Shardul Thakur, triggered a collapse. From 162/2, KKR slumped to 185/7, losing Ramandeep Singh (1 off 2), Angkrish Raghuvanshi (5 off 4), Venkatesh Iyer, and Andre Russell (7 off 4) in quick succession.

Rinku Singh, however, refused to give up. His unbeaten 38 off 15 balls, including 6 fours and 2 sixes, brought KKR tantalizingly close. In the final over, bowled by Ravi Bishnoi, KKR needed 23 runs. Rinku smashed two fours and a six, but it wasn’t enough as KKR finished at 234/7, falling short by 4 runs. Bishnoi held his nerve, finishing with 1/47, while Shardul Thakur (2/52) and Akash Deep (2/55) were LSG’s standout bowlers.

Key Moments That Defined the Match

This match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with several turning points:

1. LSG’s Powerplay Dominance: Markram and Marsh’s aggressive start set the tone, putting KKR’s bowlers under pressure early.
2. Pooran’s Explosive Knock: Nicholas Pooran’s 87* off 36 balls, especially his 21-ball fifty, turned a good total into a mammoth one.
3. KKR’s Blazing Powerplay: Scoring 90/1 in the first six overs gave KKR hope of chasing down the massive target.
4. Rahane’s Dismissal: The loss of Rahane in the 13th over shifted momentum, as KKR lost their set batsman at a crucial juncture.
5. Rinku’s Late Heroics: Rinku Singh’s valiant effort in the final over kept fans believing, but LSG’s bowlers held their nerve.

Scorecard Breakdown

Below is the detailed scorecard of the match, capturing every key detail in an easy-to-read format.

Kolkata Knight Riders vs Lucknow Super Giants Match Scorecard: Match 21(IPL 2025)

Match Details

• Date: April 8, 2025

• Venue: Eden Gardens, Kolkata

• Toss: Kolkata Knight Riders won, elected to field

• Result: Lucknow Super Giants won by 4 runs

• Player of the Match: Nicholas Pooran (LSG) – 87* (36)

• Umpires: Adrian Holdstock (SA), Akshay Totre (IND)

• TV Umpire: Rohan Pandit (IND)

• Match Referee: Shakti Singh (IND)

Lucknow Super Giants Innings (238/3 in 20 overs, RR: 11.90)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	Mins	4s	6s	SR
Aiden Markram	b Harshit Rana	47	28	43	4	2	167.85
Mitchell Marsh	c Rinku Singh b Andre Russell	81	48	69	6	5	168.75
Nicholas Pooran	not out	87	36	49	7	8	241.66
Abdul Samad	b Harshit Rana	6	4	14	1	0	150.00
David Miller	not out	4	4	8	0	0	100.00
Extras	(b 2, lb 3, w 8)	13
Total	20 overs, RR: 11.90	238/3

Did Not Bat: Rishabh Pant (c)†, Ayush Badoni, Shardul Thakur, Akash Deep, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi

Fall of Wickets:

• 99/1 (Markram, 10.2 ov)

• 170/2 (Marsh, 15.2 ov)

• 221/3 (Samad, 18.2 ov)

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Econ	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Vaibhav Arora	4	0	35	0	8.75	9	2	1	4	0
Spencer Johnson	3	0	46	0	15.33	3	6	2	2	0
Varun Chakravarthy	4	0	31	0	7.75	9	1	2	1	0
Harshit Rana	4	0	51	2	12.75	5	4	4	0	0
Sunil Narine	3	0	38	0	12.66	6	2	3	1	0
Andre Russell	2	0	32	1	16.00	4	3	3	0	0

Kolkata Knight Riders Innings (234/7 in 20 overs, RR: 11.70)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	Mins	4s	6s	SR
Quinton de Kock †	lbw b Akash Deep	15	9	15	0	2	166.66
Sunil Narine	c Markram b Rathi	30	13	36	4	2	230.76
Ajinkya Rahane (c)	c Pooran b Thakur	61	35	56	8	2	174.28
Venkatesh Iyer	c Markram b Akash Deep	45	29	52	6	1	155.17
Ramandeep Singh	c Markram b Ravi Bishnoi	1	2	7	0	0	50.00
Angkrish Raghuvanshi	c Pant b Avesh Khan	5	4	5	1	0	125.00
Andre Russell	c Miller b Thakur	7	4	8	0	1	175.00
Rinku Singh	not out	38	15	21	6	2	253.33
Harshit Rana	not out	10	9	16	2	0	111.11
Extras	(b 1, lb 1, w 20)	22
Total	20 overs, RR: 11.70	234/7

Did Not Bat: Vaibhav Arora, Spencer Johnson

Fall of Wickets:

• 37/1 (de Kock, 2.3 ov)

• 91/2 (Narine, 6.2 ov)

• 162/3 (Rahane, 12.6 ov)

• 166/4 (Ramandeep, 13.6 ov)

• 173/5 (Raghuvanshi, 14.6 ov)

• 177/6 (Iyer, 15.2 ov)

• 185/7 (Russell, 16.1 ov)

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Econ	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Akash Deep	4	0	55	2	13.75	9	6	3	3	0
Shardul Thakur	4	0	52	2	13.00	9	6	2	8	0
Avesh Khan	4	0	45	1	11.25	10	5	3	0	0
Digvesh Rathi	4	0	33	1	8.25	8	4	0	2	0
Ravi Bishnoi	4	0	47	1	11.75	8	6	2	3	0

Match Notes

• LSG Innings

  • Powerplay: 59/0 in 6 overs

  • 1st Wicket: 50 runs in 32 balls (Markram 35, Marsh 13)

  • LSG: 100/1 in 10.3 overs

  • Marsh: 50 off 36 balls (4×4, 3×6)

  • Pooran: 50 off 21 balls (2×4, 6×6)

  • LSG: 200/2 in 17.3 overs

  • Impact Player: Ravi Bishnoi in for Mitchell Marsh (19.6 ov)

• KKR Innings

  • Powerplay: 90/1 in 6 overs

  • 2nd Wicket: 50 runs in 19 balls (Narine 15, Rahane 34)

  • Rahane: 50 off 26 balls (7×4, 2×6)

  • KKR: 150/2 in 12 overs

  • Impact Player: Angkrish Raghuvanshi in for Varun Chakravarthy (13.6 ov)

  • KKR: 200/7 in 17.4 overs

Player of the Match: Nicholas Pooran

Nicholas Pooran’s match-defining 87* off 36 balls earned him the Player of the Match award. His ability to accelerate in the death overs and punish KKR’s bowlers was the difference between a competitive total and an imposing one. Pooran later revealed that his six-hitting prowess comes from dedicated practice, and he thrives on exploiting favorable match-ups.

Captains’ Take

LSG’s Rishabh Pant admitted the game was closer than expected but praised his bowlers for sticking to their plans. “We wanted to break KKR’s rhythm,” he said, highlighting the tactical decision to use a left-right batting combination to counter KKR’s spinners.

KKR’s Ajinkya Rahane was gracious in defeat, noting that chasing 239 was always going to be tough. “Everyone batted well, and it was a great game,” he said, emphasizing the team’s intent to go for boundaries despite the short boundaries making it tough for bowlers.

What Made This Match Special?

This match was a perfect advertisement for T20 cricket. The flat pitch, short boundaries, and aggressive batting from both sides ensured non-stop entertainment. LSG’s top-order firepower, led by Pooran, set a daunting target, while KKR’s valiant chase, powered by Rahane, Narine, and Rinku, kept fans glued till the final ball. The strategic timeouts, impactful substitutions, and clutch bowling in the death overs added layers of drama.

For younger fans, it was a lesson in resilience—KKR’s fightback despite losing key wickets showed the importance of never giving up. For older viewers, it was a reminder of why Eden Gardens remains one of cricket’s most electrifying venues.

Looking Ahead

LSG’s victory gave them two crucial points, boosting their campaign, while KKR, despite the loss, showed they remain a formidable force. Both teams will take plenty of positives from this game as they aim for playoff spots in IPL 2025.