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When Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) subbed in Ravi Bishnoi for Mitchell Marsh as their Impact Player midway through CSK’s chase of 167, it wasn’t just a tactical swap — it was a declaration of intent. And within minutes of taking the ball, Bishnoi delivered exactly what LSG needed: two game-turning wickets.
In a tense middle phase where Chennai Super Kings looked to stabilize, Bishnoi brought momentum, mischief, and magic, proving yet again why he’s among India’s premier T20 spinners.
Impact Player Substitution That Sparked a Fightback
LSG made the call to bring in Ravi Bishnoi at 8.5 overs, replacing Marsh — a decision that proved decisive in:
- Bringing control during the middle overs
- Choking boundaries and increasing dot-ball pressure
- Picking two crucial wickets — Tripathi and Jadeja
Wicket 1 – Rahul Tripathi (8.5 Overs)
- A classic caught-and-bowled, the dismissal showcased Bishnoi’s deception in flight.
- Tripathi tried to reach for a tossed-up delivery, only to mistime it straight back to the bowler.
- Score: 76/3
- Turning point: Tripathi had just begun accelerating; his wicket immediately slowed CSK’s momentum.
“The way he drew Tripathi into the false stroke — that’s top-tier T20 leg-spin,” said commentator Sunil Gavaskar.
Wicket 2 – Ravindra Jadeja (12.2 Overs)
- Jadeja, struggling to score freely, decided to take on Bishnoi with a lofted shot.
- The delivery was slightly tossed up, inviting the big hit — but lacked elevation.
- Aiden Markram judged it perfectly at long-on.
- Score: 96/4
“This was a pressure wicket. Bishnoi knew Jadeja was itching to break free and teased him into the trap,” noted LSG coach Justin Langer post-innings.
Bishnoi’s Spell So Far:
| Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 13 | 2 | 6.50 |
- Dot ball pressure has gone up since his arrival.
- Overs well-distributed across phases (entry at 9th over and 12th over).
- Forced CSK to rebuild instead of attack, especially as required run-rate hovered around 9.
Why Bishnoi Was the Perfect Impact Player
✅ Matchup Advantage
- Bishnoi’s entry was timed to target:
- Right-handers like Tripathi who like pace on the ball
- Left-hander Jadeja, who struggles against flighted leg-spin
✅ Control Under Pressure
- Despite a modest target, CSK were cruising before his arrival.
- Bishnoi’s spell cut the scoring rate and brought two new batters to the crease.
✅ Trusted Middle-Overs Enforcer
- Bishnoi’s record in overs 7–14 is elite.
- His economy of 6.2 in middle overs across this season positions him in the top 5 spinners in IPL 2025.
Fan Reactions: Bishnoi Wins Hearts and Hashtags
- “Ravi Bishnoi is a menace in the middle overs. Can’t believe teams still take chances against him.”
- “Best use of Impact Player rule today — Bishnoi for Marsh is genius.”
- “Game-changer. Wickets of Tripathi and Jadeja — that’s not easy.”
Bishnoi in IPL 2025 – Performance Snapshot
| Match | Wickets | Economy | Match Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| vs MI | 1 | 6.00 | Medium |
| vs KKR | 2 | 7.25 | High |
| vs RR | 0 | 8.50 | Low |
| vs CSK (Today) | 2 | 6.50 | High (so far) |
Bishnoi continues to perform when it matters most, especially against top-order and middle-order batters.
Bishnoi Delivers When It Counts
In a season where the Impact Player rule has changed match dynamics, Ravi Bishnoi’s spell today was a textbook example of how to use the rule tactically. Replacing an out-of-form Marsh with India’s best white-ball leg-spinner not only stemmed CSK’s flow but reinvigorated LSG’s defense of a modest total.
If LSG manages to close out this match, Bishnoi’s 2-wicket spell will be remembered as the inflection point — a true impact, in every sense of the word.
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