Heartbreak for Mumbai: Lucknow Edges Past Despite Hardik's Heroics, Surya's Blazing 67

In a nail-biting clash at the IPL, Lucknow Super Giants handed Mumbai Indians a heartbreaking 12-run defeat, despite a spirited fight led by captain Hardik Pandya and the explosive Suryakumar Yadav.

Hardik-Surya Show Not Enough

Chasing a stiff target of 204, Mumbai needed 22 runs off the final over. Hopes soared when Hardik Pandya smashed a six off the very first ball, igniting excitement in the Mumbai camp. But the momentum didn’t last. The next five deliveries yielded just 3 runs, as Mumbai managed only 9 runs in the final over, sealing their loss by 12 runs.

Hardik remained unbeaten on 28 runs off 16 balls, cracking one six and two fours. His late surge came after a strong platform was laid by Suryakumar Yadav, who hammered 67 runs off 43 balls, including 9 fours and a six.

Top-Order Fightback Led by Surya, Dheer

Mumbai’s chase began on a shaky note, losing both openers early. But Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dheer turned the tide with a 67-run stand. Dheer played a crucial knock of 46, smashing 3 sixes and 4 fours. Later, Surya paired with Tilak Varma for another steady partnership. Tilak contributed 28 runs, but the middle-order couldn’t convert the momentum into a win.

Hardik’s Career-Best Bowling Goes in Vain

Earlier in the evening, Hardik Pandya delivered a standout performance with the ball, registering his best T20 figures of 5/36. He dismissed key batters including Aiden Markram (53), Nicholas Pooran (12), Rishabh Pant (2), David Miller (27), and Akash Deep (0), turning the tide just when Lucknow looked poised for a massive total.

Despite his effort, Lucknow Super Giants managed to post a daunting 203/8. This was largely thanks to brisk fifties from Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, who stitched a 76-run opening stand. Marsh dazzled with 60 off 31 balls, hitting 9 fours and 2 sixes. Markram, struggling for form before this match, finally delivered with a 53-run knock that included 4 sixes.

Middle-Order Firepower Seals Lucknow’s Total

After Marsh’s dismissal—caught and bowled by Vignesh Puthur—Markram anchored one end while Ayush Badoni (30 off 14) and David Miller (27 off 14) unleashed a flurry of boundaries to push the score beyond 200. Hardik’s clever bowling changes slowed the run rate for a while, but the late-innings acceleration proved decisive.

Pant’s Woes Continue

Rishabh Pant’s lean patch deepened with another failure—just 2 runs off 6 balls. His last three innings now read 0, 15, and 2. Mumbai did well to dismiss him early, but couldn’t stop the rest of Lucknow’s lineup from cashing in.

A Close Finish, But Another Defeat for Mumbai

Despite staying in the game throughout the chase and never letting the asking rate climb out of reach, Mumbai couldn’t cross the line. Hardik’s all-round brilliance and Surya’s commanding fifty went in vain as the team suffered yet another loss in what’s becoming a worrying pattern this season.