The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 witnessed its second-consecutive last-over finish as the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by just one run on Monday. However, the game could have been in DC’s favor had skipper Rishabh Pant executed a crucial stumping in the final over.
LSG, despite injuries to key pacers, posted a total of 209/8, courtesy of innings from Mitchell Marsh (72 off 36) and Nicholas Pooran (75 off 30). The Delhi Capitals, in response, found themselves in early trouble at 7 for 3, but a heroic effort from Ashutosh Sharma (66* off 31) and debutant Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15) kept them in the hunt.
As the match entered its final moments, DC needed just six runs to win in the final over with one wicket remaining. Facing the first ball was LSG’s No. 11 batter, Mohit Sharma, with Shahbaz Ahmed bowling the over. The moment came on the very first ball of the 20th over.
Shahbaz’s delivery spun away, beating Mohit’s attempted flick as the ball hit the pad and carried to Pant, who failed to collect it cleanly. Had he done so, a simple stumping would have sealed the game for Delhi. Instead, the wicketkeeper reviewed the LBW decision, hoping to get the final wicket that way. The ball-tracking confirmed the delivery was missing the off stump, and LSG survived the scare.
The miss cost them heavily as Mohit gave a single to the well-set Ashutosh in the very next delivery. The right-handed batter took no time in taking his team over the line as he smashed a six over the bowler to seal the game and register DC’s first win of the season. Speaking after the game, Pant spoke about the luck that played a role but mentioned that his team needed to play better cricket.
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“Definitely luck plays a part in this game and if it could have missed his (Mohit Sharma’s) pads, it was a chance for stumping. But these things happen in the game of cricket, you can’t focus on these things, but rather you need to play better cricket,” he told during the post-match party.
