With a 36-run win, the Lucknow Super Giants have officially knocked the Mumbai Indians out of the IPL. This loss marks a devastating streak for MI, who have now lost eight games in a row. Despite playing at Wankhede Stadium—where the short boundaries and favorable dew conditions usually make a chase of 169 manageable—MI's batting collapsed. The LSG bowlers put on a clinical display, restricting the hosts to a total of 132/8.
LSG started their innings slowly after being asked to bat first. The momentum shifted slightly when Jasprit Bumrah removed Quinton de Kock for just 10 runs in the fourth over. However, KL Rahul shifted gears, utilizing his form to tear into the bowling. He and Manish Pandey (22) put on 58 runs together before Kieron Pollard broke the partnership.
While the MI bowlers managed to keep the pressure on and take wickets steadily, they couldn't contain KL Rahul. In a stunning display of batting, Rahul notched his second hundred of the season, finishing unbeaten on 103. His efforts propelled LSG to a competitive total of 168/6 by the end of their 20 overs.
During the chase, Rohit Sharma provided a brief spark with a promising 39 off 31 balls, but the top order crumbled again, sliding from a comfortable 49/0 to a worrying 67/4. The burden of the chase fell on Tilak Varma and Kieron Pollard. Varma fought hard, scoring 38 from 27 deliveries, but Pollard struggled to find his rhythm and fell for 19. LSG's bowling variety was the difference, as six of their seven bowlers claimed wickets, with Krunal Pandya leading the way with 3/19.