It was a run-fest at Eden Gardens as LSG set a target of 239 runs. When KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and chose to field first, fans were puzzled. The decision backfired, as openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh gave Lucknow a strong start. Although Markram fell just 3 runs short of a fifty, Marsh and Nicholas Pooran kept the momentum going.
The KKR bowlers stood no chance against the duo, who were also competing for the Orange Cap. While Marsh scored 81 off just 48 balls, the West Indian was even more explosive. He smashed Harshit Rana and Andre Russell all over the park, scoring 87 runs off just 36 balls. Rana was KKR’s most successful bowler with 2 wickets but was also expensive, conceding 51 runs.
KKR were up against history, as they had never chased a target of 239 runs before. They got off to a strong start—even though they lost Quinton de Kock for just 15, they scored 90 runs in the powerplay. After Sunil Narine was dismissed right after the powerplay, Venkatesh Iyer and captain Rahane kept the momentum going, helping KKR cross 160 in just 13 overs.
Just when it seemed like the Knight Riders were cruising, wickets started to tumble. KKR lost five batters for just 23 runs. With 39 runs needed off the final 12 balls, Rinku Singh was the only recognized batter left. The left-hander gave it his all, scoring 10 runs off the first two balls. However, Ravi Bishnoi held his nerve in the final over and successfully defended 24 runs. LSG won the match by just 4 runs, securing 6 points on the table.
Fans react to LSG’s fantastic win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the 21st match of IPL 2025
Fans were clamoring for this kind of match in the 2025 season of IPL, and they finally got it. While some fans appreciated Pant’s captaincy, others were a bit critical of him by saying that he contributed nothing. One fan stated that the LSG owner, Sanjiv Goenka, must be really happy with his team’s win.
One fan criticized Rana for being selfish in the final over, accusing him of not giving the strike to Rinku, who was the more capable batter at the time. Another user questioned the KKR management, asking why the left-hander wasn’t sent in earlier ahead of Ramandeep Singh and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. Here are some of the top fan reactions:
Some fans criticized Pant, calling him lucky for being carried by his teammates. Others praised Pooran and Marsh for their explosive performances. One user also admired Digvesh Rathi‘s bravery in the 18th over, where he conceded just 7 runs against Rinku.