Rishabh Pant (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
NEW DELHI: Although Lucknow Super Giants registered a victory over Chennai Super Kings at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Friday, the dejection was clearly visible on captain Rishabh Pant’s face. After Nicholas Pooran smashed four consecutive sixes in the 17th over to seal the chase for LSG, Pant quietly got up from his place in the dugout and hugged his teammates. The win was significant, but for the already relegated LSG side, it meant nothing in the wider picture.In the post-match press conference, Pant reflected on the disappointing IPL 2026 season despite the win. LSG have endured a poor campaign, sitting at the bottom of the table with just four wins from 12 matches and eight defeats. “It feels good. It definitely feels good to win. There are things that we talk about that there is something to play for regardless of where our season ends. We take a lot of pride in playing this way,” Pant said.After Akash Singh took three wickets to help CSK restrict LSG to 187/5, the hosts mounted a sensational chase, fueled by Mitchell Marsh’s brilliant 90 off 38 balls and some late fireworks from Pooran, to beat CSK by seven wickets in just 16.4 overs.Akash, who made his IPL debut, took three wickets, including the prized scalps of Sanju Samson, Ruturaj Gaikwad and Urvil Patel.Sharing the new ball with Mohammed Shami, Akash conceded seven runs in his opening match. In his second over, he dismissed CSK skipper Gaikwad for 13. In his third over, he struck again, removing star batsman Samson for 20. Pant then handed him his fourth successive wicket and the young pacer responded by dismissing Urvil Patel for six.“(On Akash Singh) You see, he’s definitely worked hard throughout the IPL. You know sometimes it’s harder to give everyone a game. But when people prepare really well and it’s one person who sticks to the plan more often than he went anywhere else. So yeah, it definitely paid off. The way he played, stick to the plan for a longer period of time. That’s really good to see,” Pant said.Pant also opened up about the decision to send two overseas batsmen – Marsh and Josh Inglis – to open the innings, an experiment that paid rich dividends for LSG. The duo stitched together a solid opening stand of 135 runs.“(As for the opening partnership – was that what they had in mind?) That was definitely the first thought, to get two overseas players to open the innings and Nicky to bat at number three. That was the idea, sometimes it’s difficult when the thought process doesn’t always work. But at the same time we’re proud and confident as a team. The only thing I’d say is because you know the process you’ve got here and how frustrating and frustrating. you can’t implement things the way you want, things happen they can stand,” Pant added.When asked if LSG are close to unraveling the winning formula on their home soil, Pant said:“(Do you think you’re close to figuring out the recipe for success on this home field of yours?) We’re training and it’s working for us, four fast bowlers, especially at home, depending on the opponent we’re playing, definitely works for us. And at the same time, the team we have, I’ll say it again, it’s so amazing. The only thing we have that can hurt us (is too many processes).On batting lower down the order and not coming earlier, Pant explained:“I was ready to bat and the idea came, I was in the dressing room, the idea came, why not try the players who haven’t played much, they don’t have much chance. And that was the idea, I thought again and again, should I do it or not? Because I still wanted to be out in the field, but sometimes you have to respect the decisions of the think tanks. That’s how it is.”LSG will next face Rajasthan Royals on May 23.
