With 20 runs to spare in the final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Rishabh Pant found himself staring at the kind of decision that can define a captain’s night. Lucknow Super Giants did hard work to stay on top of the contest but with Romario Shepherd and Krunal Pandya at the crease, the game was still very much alive.
What made the decision more difficult was the tactical corner LSG stepped in. The Lucknow surface offered enough spin support throughout the evening, so it was a logical route for the final as well. But logic only goes so far when two powerful finishers can even launch decent deliveries into the stands.
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Pant’s choice fell on two spinners with very different appeals. Shahbaz Ahmed brought experience and control. Digvesh Rathi brought unpredictability, guile and the kind of mystery that can unsettle batsmen under pressure.
The most difficult interview of the captain
Just before the start of the final, the cameras caught an interesting exchange in the middle. Pant walked in to speak to both Shahbaz and Digvesh, with both bowlers looking more than ready to take on the responsibility.
That was perhaps what made the call even more difficult.
At times like these, captains often have the luxury of reading hesitation. A pitcher who is unsure of himself can make the pick easy. But there was no such signal here. Both Shahbaz and Digvesh seemed convinced that they were the right man for the job, with Shahbaz being particularly animated as the discussion unfolded.
Pant remained composed through it all, even taking a moment to consult with Mitchell Marsh before arriving at his decision. The ball eventually found its way to Digvesh, which immediately raised eyebrows given Shahbaz’s greater experience in pressure situations.
Why Romario Shepherd changed the equation
This wasn’t just about defending 20 runs. It was a defense of the 20 against one of the most dangerous stoppers in the competition.
Romario Shepherd had already shown enough to suggest that one over was more than enough time to swing the game, while Krunal Pandya was beginning to settle into his innings at the other end. The challenge was not whether rotation was the right choice. The challenge was which spinner had a better chance of disrupting the batsmen’s rhythm.
Pant’s explanation after the game suggested the decision was rooted in head-to-head thinking rather than pure instinct.
“It was a tough challenge (to go with Rathi over Shahbaz). We were under pressure. But at the same time you have to trust your bowler. Rathi was the right match against Shepherd. He believed in himself and did the job for the team.”
This trust was clearly central to the decision. Pant was not just choosing between two bowling styles. He was picking the pitcher he believed could handle the moment.
A gamble that paid off
As it turned out, Pant’s call couldn’t have gone much better. Digvesh brilliantly kept his composure, conceding just 10 runs in the power over to give LSG a memorable victory.
Pant was quick to put the moment in the wider context of LSG’s season, praising the bowling attack that repeatedly kept the team competitive.
“We know we bowled hard as a team. Our strength this season was the bowling, the way all the bowlers gave their hearts, especially Prince, Shami bhai, Rathi, all the bowlers… Avesh, Mayank.”
LSG’s path to the playoffs may still be narrow, but wins like this can change the mood around the campaign. At least for one night Pant’s biggest captaincy dilemma became one of his smartest calls.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
08 May 2026 10:43 IST
