The Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium erupted in a frenzy of disbelief and elation as Rahul Tripathi pulled off a catch for the ages to dismiss Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) in-form opener Aiden Markram in the very first over of their clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). In a moment that will undoubtedly be replayed countless times, Tripathi’s sensational effort provided CSK with the perfect start after his team opted to bowl first in the 30th match of IPL 2025.
Rahul Tripathi’s gravity-defying grab to dismiss Aiden Markram
The atmosphere was electric as Khaleel Ahmed steamed in for the final delivery of the opening over. Markram, looking to get his innings underway, was undone by a back-of-a-length delivery that he intended to whip across the line. However, the ball took a leading edge, sending it soaring high and wide over the cover-point region.
For a fleeting moment, it seemed the ball would fall safely into the vacant space. But then, a blur of yellow appeared on the horizon. Rahul Tripathi, stationed at cover-point, sprinted back with incredible speed, his eyes glued to the white projectile against the darkening Lucknow sky.
The tension in the stadium was palpable as Tripathi covered significant ground. Just as the ball looked set to drop, he launched himself forward in a full-stretch dive. Time seemed to slow down as the crowd held its breath. And then, the collective gasp of astonishment as the ball nestled safely into Tripathi’s outstretched right hand.
The impact of the catch was immediate and significant. Markram, who has been in sublime touch this season, stood in disbelief before trudging back to the pavilion, his innings cut short at just 6 runs off 6 deliveries, including a solitary boundary. The early breakthrough sent a wave of jubilation through the CSK camp.
Khaleel, the beneficiary of Tripathi’s brilliance, celebrated with gusto, acknowledging the stunning effort of his teammate. The dismissal not only provided LSG with a crucial early wicket but also put immense pressure on the LSG batting lineup right from the outset.
Here’s the video:
CSK restricts LSG from making a flying start
As the innings progressed, LSG found themselves at 78 for 3 after 10 overs, with Ayush Badoni (5*) and Rishabh Pant (28*) at the crease. While CSK managed to pick up a few more wickets in form of Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, the early dismissal of Markram, courtesy of Tripathi’s brilliance, undoubtedly gave LSG a psychological advantage.
