IPL 2025 Match 30 Highlights – LSG vs CSK First Innings Full Match Highlights

The 30th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 took place on April 14, where Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced off against the mighty Chennai Super Kings (CSK). The match was held at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. It was a high-voltage clash with both teams looking to secure important points to move ahead in the tournament standings.

Toss and Team News

Chennai Super Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first. The pitch looked dry and slightly slow, which meant batting first could be tricky in the early overs but might become easier as the ball got older.

Lucknow Super Giants made a couple of changes in their playing XI. Key players like KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Nicholas Pooran were in the lineup, promising some explosive batting. CSK stuck with their experienced core including MS Dhoni, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and Deepak Chahar.

Powerplay – A Mixed Start for Lucknow

LSG openers, KL Rahul and Quinton de Kock, walked out confidently. However, CSK's pace attack was sharp from the start. Deepak Chahar bowled a tight first over and kept things under control.

In the 3rd over, Quinton de Kock tried to go big but mistimed his shot and was caught at deep mid-wicket. He managed only 12 runs off 10 balls. It was a big blow early in the innings.

KL Rahul, on the other hand, stayed calm and started rotating the strike. He was joined by young talent Ayush Badoni, who showed intent from ball one.

After 6 overs, LSG were 45 for 1. A decent powerplay, but not as explosive as they would have hoped.

Middle Overs – Spinners Slow Things Down

As the field spread out, CSK introduced their spinners. Ravindra Jadeja and Moeen Ali bowled in tandem and controlled the run flow beautifully. The dry pitch offered turn, and the batters found it difficult to time their shots.

Ayush Badoni tried to break the shackles but lost his wicket trying to go over the top. He scored 18 runs from 15 balls before being stumped off Moeen Ali's bowling.

Nicholas Pooran walked in at number four and began with a boundary, but soon Jadeja dismissed him with a quicker delivery that went straight through and hit the stumps. Pooran made just 9 runs.

At the halfway mark (10 overs), LSG were 70 for 3. The scoring rate had dropped significantly.

KL Rahul’s Steady Innings

Amid the fall of wickets, KL Rahul held one end and anchored the innings. He played a captain’s knock, hitting boundaries when needed and focusing on building a partnership.

He was joined by Marcus Stoinis, who brought some energy back into the game with a few quick hits. The duo added 40 runs in 4 overs, giving the crowd something to cheer about.

KL Rahul reached his half-century in 38 balls, a solid and mature innings under pressure.

Final Overs – Quick Runs and Drama

With 5 overs left, LSG were 110 for 3, and a final push was needed to reach a competitive total.

Stoinis started hitting big shots, targeting the shorter boundaries. He smashed a six and two fours off a single over from Tushar Deshpande. But in the 17th over, he was caught at long-on, ending his quick-fire knock of 28 runs in 16 balls.

KL Rahul tried to accelerate, but with wickets falling, he didn’t get much support from the other end. Deepak Hooda and Krunal Pandya both fell cheaply, adding pressure on the skipper.

In the final over, Rahul attempted a scoop shot but was caught behind. He scored 67 runs off 50 balls, a valuable knock but not enough to push the score past 180.

Final Score – LSG: 166/7 in 20 Overs

Lucknow Super Giants ended their innings at 166 for 7. It was a fighting total, especially on a pitch that wasn’t easy to bat on. However, it was clear that they fell 10–15 runs short of what they would have liked.

KL Rahul – 67 (50)

Marcus Stoinis – 28 (16)

Ayush Badoni – 18 (15)

And the top CSK bowlers:

Ravindra Jadeja – 4 overs, 2 wickets, 24 runs

Moeen Ali – 3 overs, 1 wicket, 18 runs

Deepak Chahar – 4 overs, 1 wicket, 29 runs

First Innings Analysis

Overall, it was a balanced first innings. Lucknow Super Giants played cautiously and lost a few key wickets at the wrong time. KL Rahul’s captain’s knock was the highlight of the innings, but they couldn’t fully capitalize in the death overs.

CSK’s bowlers were very disciplined, especially the spinners who controlled the game in the middle overs. Their fielding was also top-notch, with sharp catches and quick throws saving 10-15 runs.

The total of 166 was defendable, but not a guaranteed winning score—especially considering CSK’s deep batting lineup.

What to Expect in the Second Innings

With players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube, MS Dhoni, and Ben Stokes in CSK’s batting order, chasing 167 seemed achievable. However, LSG’s bowling attack had the firepower to defend the target if they bowled with discipline.

The second innings was expected to be a close contest, and fans were excited to see whether CSK could chase down the target or if LSG would defend the total with smart bowling and good field placements.

Final Thoughts

The first innings of Match 30 in IPL 2025 gave fans a taste of smart cricket, tight bowling, and a captain’s knock under pressure. KL Rahul led from the front, while CSK bowlers kept things under control.

Would CSK chase 167 successfully, or would LSG pull off a brilliant defense? Either way, the match was perfectly set up for an exciting finish.