IPL 2025 | We’re getting along really nicely: Markram on opening partnership with Marsh

Lucknow Super Giants opener Aiden Markram praises partnership with Mitchell Marsh in team's consecutive wins, emphasizing importance of quick starts.

Lucknow Super Giants opener Aiden Markram is pleased with his association with Australian Mitchell Marsh, which has produced two successful partnerships in the team’s successive wins over Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders.

After a four-run win over KKR at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday, Markram said, “We’re getting along really nicely and he takes the game forward quite quickly. It’s a nice partnership to be involved in and in T20 cricket if you can get your team off to a good quick start, it goes a long way in terms of setting the game up.”

Markram said he had no idea how they became opening partners. “I think it’s mostly because myself and Mitch have opened the batting before in various formats. It probably just fell on our side in terms of opening.”

As LSG bowlers leaked lots of runs (including 20 wides) while defending, Markram said a smaller ground tested their skills.

‘Hard for bowlers’

KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane said LSG adapted to the conditions better. “They used the boundary really well, bowling to the longer boundary. Our bowlers tried as well, but again, (Nicholas) Pooran and Marsh batted well, took their chances which came off really well. It was a lovely pitch, scoring almost 500 runs on this track, hard for the bowlers,” said Rahane.

Rahane said KKR bowlers could not execute their plans well. “I thought our bowlers’ plans were perfect, but they couldn’t bowl into the right areas,” said Rahane.