IPL Live Cricket Score (IPL), branded as TATA IPL 2025, has lived up to its reputation as the world’s most exhilarating T20 cricket league, delivering blockbuster encounters week after week. On April 8, 2025, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata witnessed one of the season’s most electrifying clashes—the 21st match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). This contest was a run-fest that showcased breathtaking batting, dramatic twists, and a finish so close it left fans breathless. LSG posted a mammoth 238/3, only for KKR to fall agonizingly short at 234/7, handing Lucknow a thrilling 4-run victory in a game that epitomized IPL’s unpredictability.
Pre-Match Context
Entering the match, both teams were eager to assert dominance in a tightly contested mid-table battle. LSG, captained by Rishabh Pant, had found their groove after a shaky start to the season, securing two wins in their last three outings. With power-hitters like Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran in scintillating form, and a bowling unit bolstered by Shardul Thakur and Avesh Khan, Lucknow were quietly building momentum. Their previous victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad by 5 wickets had showcased their ability to chase big totals, raising expectations for another strong performance.
KKR, the defending champions from 2024, were led by Ajinkya Rahane following a major squad overhaul in the mega auction. Despite their pedigree, the Knights had been inconsistent, alternating wins and losses through their first five games. With Quinton de Kock, Sunil Narine, Venkatesh Iyer, and Andre Russell in their ranks, KKR boasted a formidable batting lineup, but their bowling had struggled to contain opposition batsmen on flat tracks like Eden Gardens. The stage was set for a high-octane encounter, with the batting-friendly pitch and short boundaries promising a deluge of runs.
The toss proved pivotal, and KKR’s Rahane opted to bowl first, citing the team’s confidence in chasing at home. However, this decision would soon be put to the test as LSG’s batsmen unleashed a barrage of boundaries and sixes.
First Innings: LSG’s Batting Blitz – 238/3
IPL Live Cricket Score LSG’s innings was a spectacle of power and precision, driven by their top order’s relentless assault. Openers Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram set the tone, capitalizing on KKR’s pace-heavy attack. Marsh, in particular, was in punishing mood, racing to a 36-ball fifty—his fourth of the season. His muscular drives and towering sixes off Harshit Rana and Vaibhav Arora gave LSG a flying start, with 67 runs coming in the powerplay. Markram played the perfect foil, rotating the strike and finding gaps with a 28-ball 47 before falling to Harshit Rana’s off-cutter in the 11th over, caught by Aiden Markram at long-off.
The real fireworks, however, came from Nicholas Pooran, who walked in at No. 3 and turned the game into a personal hitting exhibition. Pooran’s 87 not out off 36 balls was a masterclass in modern T20 batting—combining brute force with impeccable timing. He smashed 8 sixes and 5 fours, targeting KKR’s spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine with disdain. His ability to clear the short boundary on the leg side made life miserable for the Kolkata bowlers, who struggled to find answers. A standout moment was Pooran’s 21-run onslaught in the 19th over off Andre Russell, featuring three consecutive sixes that sent the Eden Gardens crowd into a mix of awe and despair.
IPL Live Cricket Score David Miller provided late support with an unbeaten 4 off 3 balls, ensuring LSG finished strongly at 238/3—their second-highest IPL total ever, only behind the 257/5 against Punjab Kings in 2023. For KKR, Harshit Rana (2/55) and Andre Russell (1/40) picked up wickets, but the rest of the attack, including Spencer Johnson and Varun Chakaravarthy, bled runs. Rahane’s decision to bowl first began to look like a miscalculation as LSG set a daunting target on a pitch tailor-made for batting.
Second Innings: KKR’s Valiant Chase Falls Short – 234/7
Chasing 239, IPL Live Cricket Score KKR needed a blazing start, and their openers Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine delivered. The first two overs yielded 31 runs, with Narine smashing Akash Deep for two sixes and a four. However, de Kock’s early departure for a low score off Avesh Khan brought Rahane to the crease, and the captain took charge. Narine continued his aggression, racing to 30 off 13 balls before falling to Digvesh Rathi, who celebrated dismissing his idol with his signature “write-off” gesture. At 50/2 after 6 overs, KKR were still in the game, but the required rate was creeping up.
Rahane and Venkatesh Iyer then forged a crucial partnership, blending caution with calculated aggression. Rahane’s 61 off 35 balls, laced with 8 fours and 2 sixes, kept KKR on track, while Iyer’s 45 off 28 provided stability. By the 12th over, KKR were 149/2, needing 90 off the last 8 overs—a steep but achievable ask with wickets in hand. The Eden Gardens faithful roared as Rahane dispatched Shardul Thakur for consecutive boundaries, and Iyer lofted Ravi Bishnoi over cover for a sublime four.
The tide turned in the 13th over when Rahane fell to Thakur, miscuing a lofted shot to Pooran at extra cover. This triggered a dramatic collapse—KKR lost 5 wickets for just 23 runs in the next four overs. Iyer was bowled by a Bishnoi googly, Andre Russell holed out to long-on off Avesh Khan, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi perished attempting a big shot. Suddenly, at 177/6 after 15.2 overs, KKR’s hopes seemed dashed, with 62 needed off the final 28 balls.
Rinku Singh, however, refused to give up. Known for his late heroics, Rinku smashed 38 off 15 balls, including a 19-run final over off Bishnoi with a sequence of four, four, and six. With 24 needed off the last over, Harshit Rana chipped in with a boundary, but despite a valiant 14 runs off the last three balls, KKR finished at 234/7—4 runs short. Bishnoi held his nerve, and LSG’s bowlers, led by Thakur (2 wickets) and Rathi (key breakthroughs), pulled off a heist.
Live Score Updates: A Game of Momentum Shifts
Here’s how the match unfolded through key live score updates:
- LSG 67/0 after 6 overs: Marsh and Markram dominate the powerplay.
- LSG 106/1 after 11 overs: Marsh reaches fifty; Markram falls.
- LSG 238/3 after 20 overs: Pooran’s carnage sets a massive target.
- KKR 50/2 after 6 overs: Narine’s blitz ends; Rahane steadies the ship.
- KKR 149/2 after 12 overs: Rahane and Iyer keep the chase alive.
- KKR 177/6 after 15.2 overs: Collapse puts LSG in control.
- KKR 234/7 after 20 overs: Rinku’s late surge falls 4 runs short.
Key Performances and Turning Points
- *Nicholas Pooran (87 off 36)**: His unbeaten knock, earning him Player of the Match, was the backbone of LSG’s total.
- Mitchell Marsh (81 off 48): A fourth fifty in five games underlined his consistency.
- Ajinkya Rahane (61 off 35): KKR’s captain led from the front but couldn’t finish the job.
- Rinku Singh (38 off 15): Nearly pulled off a miracle chase.
- Digvesh Rathi: His dismissal of Narine shifted momentum in the middle overs.
- Shardul Thakur: Key wickets, including Rahane, turned the game.
The turning point came between overs 13 and 17, when KKR lost four quick wickets, derailing a chase that had been on course. Bishnoi’s composure in the final over sealed LSG’s triumph.
Post-Match Analysis: Implications for Both Teams
For LSG, this victory marked their third win of the season, propelling them to fourth on the points table. Their batting, led by Marsh, Pooran, and Markram, looks like the tournament’s most potent top order, while the bowling unit is finding its rhythm. Pant’s tactical acumen in managing his bowlers under pressure bodes well for their playoff aspirations.
KKR, despite the loss, showed fight. Their batting depth was evident, but the collapse highlighted a vulnerability under pressure. The bowling unit’s inability to contain LSG on a flat track remains a concern, with Rahane needing to find better plans for his spinners. Sitting mid-table with four points, KKR must address these issues to mount a title defense.
Fan Reactions and Atmosphere
The Eden Gardens crowd, though disappointed, was treated to a spectacle—472 runs, 25 sixes, and 45 fours. LSG fans on X celebrated Pooran’s “freakish” hitting, while KKR supporters lauded Rinku’s resilience. The atmosphere was electric, with chants of “KKR! KKR!” giving way to stunned silence as the chase faltered.
Conclusion
The TATA IPL 2025 21st match between LSG and KKR on April 8, 2025, was a classic T20 encounter—high on runs, drama, and emotion. LSG’s 4-run victory underscored their growing prowess, while KKR’s near-miss highlighted their potential and pitfalls. As the tournament progresses, this game will be remembered as a benchmark for thrilling cricket, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the next chapter in this burgeoning rivalry.
