We orchestrated a remarkable comeback to register a thrilling victory over Rajasthan Royals in a pulsating Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Saturday.

With nine runs needed in the final over, our accomplished pacer Avesh Khan produced a performance for the ages as he conceded just six runs to guide us to one of our most memorable wins in our IPL history.

Avesh finished with match-winning figures of 3/37 to restrict the Royals to 178/5 in their allotted overs. Earlier, Aiden Markram and Ayush Badoni slammed fifties, while Abdul Samad remained unbeaten on 30 off just 10 balls to help us post 180/5 in our 20 overs.

With our fifth victory in IPL 2025, we have leapfrogged to fourth on the IPL 2025 standings with 10 points from eight games.

Markram shines in the powerplay

Aiden Markram got us off to a brilliant start as he slammed Jofra Archer for consecutive fours in the opening over.

However, we suffered an early blow as Mitchell Marsh fell to Archer. Meanwhile, Nicholas Pooran completed his milestone of 9,000 runs in T20 cricket.

Markram and Pooran played some exquisite shots before our Caribbean southpaw departed in the sixth over. We were 46/2 at the end of the powerplay.

Badoni, Markram stitch crucial partnership

Later in the eighth over, we succumbed to another blow as our captain Rishabh Pant was dismissed.

Ayush Badoni was later drafted in as our impact sub in place of Marsh. Badoni and Markram forged a brilliant partnership to steady our ship.

Markram continued his assault as he clobbered Hasaranga for back-to-back sixes in the 10th over. He later brought up his fifty off just 31 balls.

In the following over, Markram and Badoni accumulated 16 runs off Sandeep Sharma. Our dynamic pair added 76 runs for the fourth wicket before Markram fell for 66.

Samad’s cameo powers us to 180

Badoni continued his impressive knock as he later notched up his fifth half-century in the IPL. He later departed for 50.

In the final over, Abdul Samad showcased his six-hitting capabilities as he smashed Sandeep Sharma for four maximums to amass 27 runs and help us post 180/5 in our 20 overs.

Markram breaks opening partnership

Defending 180, our bowlers were off to a challenging start as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Suryavanshi added 85 runs for the opening wicket. Markram later provided us with the much-needed breakthrough as he dismissed Suryavanshi in the ninth over, courtesy of a brilliant stumping by captain Pant.

Shardul bags crucial scalp

Our star all-rounder, Shardul Thakur, continued his good form in IPL 2025 as he removed Nitish Rana in the 10th over.

Despite best efforts from our bowlers, Yashasvi and captain Riyan Parag forged a 62-run stand to put the hosts in a commanding position.

Avesh's heroics guide us to remarkable win

However, in the 18th over, Avesh Khan brought us right back into the game as he castled Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Avesh continued his brilliant over as he then trapped Riyan in front of the stumps.

Defending nine runs off the final over, captain Rishabh showed his faith in Avesh. Our experienced pacer bowled brilliantly as he conceded just three runs in his first two balls before he removed Shimron Hetmyer. He later held his nerve in the final three deliveries to guide us to a nail-biting two-run win in Jaipur.

For his match-defining spell, Avesh was later adjudged the Player of the Match.

What next for the Super Giants?

After a thrilling victory in Jaipur, we will look to continue our winning momentum against Delhi Capitals at our fortress, the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday.

Brief Scores: Lucknow Super Giants 180/5 in 20 overs (Aiden Markram 66, Ayush Badoni 50; Wanindu Hasaranga 2/31) beat Rajasthan Royals 178/5 in 20 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 74, Riyan Parag 39; Avesh Khan 3/37) by 2 runs.