Mumbai Indians fall short against Lucknow Super Giants, suffer third defeat in IPL 2025

LUCKNOW: Former champions Mumbai Indians endured their third loss of the IPL 2024 season, falling to Lucknow Super Giants by 12 runs in a closely contested match. Chasing a challenging target of 204 runs, the five-time champions could only muster 191 for 5 in their allotted 20 overs, with a lack of momentum during key phases costing them dearly.

The chase began on a shaky note, as openers Will Jacks (5 off 7) and Ryan Rickelton (10 off 5) were dismissed early, leaving the team struggling at 17 for 2. Promoted up the order, Naman Dhir injected some momentum with a brisk 46 from just 24 balls, featuring four boundaries and three maximums. Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with a composed 67 off 43 balls, emerging as the top scorer for Mumbai. Impact substitute Tilak Varma chipped in with 25 off 23 deliveries, but his inability to up the ante led to him being retired out, adding to Mumbai's struggles in the middle overs.

With 22 runs needed off the final over, skipper Hardik Pandya gave Mumbai a glimmer of hope by starting with a six. However, he could only manage nine runs in total, finishing unbeaten on 28 off 16. Lucknow's Avesh Khan held his nerve, delivering a clinical final over that conceded just three runs from the last five deliveries.

Earlier, after losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Lucknow posted a strong total of 203 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their 20 overs. Openers Mitchell Marsh (60 off 31) and Aiden Markram (53 off 38) scored half-centuries, while Ayush Badoni (30 off 19) and David Miller (27 off 14) provided valuable contributions to push the total past 200. Despite Mumbai captain Hardik Pandya claiming an impressive five-wicket haul, his efforts went in vain. Kerala's own Vignesh Puthur also chipped in with a wicket for Mumbai.