Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant admitted that his team was 20-25 runs short in their first home game at Ekana Stadium, Lucknow, following an 8-wicket loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS).
Pant: “Still Assessing Home Conditions”
Speaking after the match, Pant highlighted LSG’s struggles with the conditions and their inability to post a strong total.
“It (the total) was not enough, we were 20-25 runs short, but that’s part and parcel of the game. Still assessing the conditions at our home ground. It is always going to be difficult to get a big total when you lose early wickets, but each and every player is trying hard to take the game forward.”
He also pointed out how slower deliveries were effective and that LSG would need to learn from this game and move forward.
LSG’s Batting Struggles Continue
Put in to bat first, LSG had a disastrous start, losing three wickets for just 35 runs. Despite Nicholas Pooran (44 off 30) and Ayush Badoni (41 off 33) putting up a fight, LSG struggled to form long partnerships.
A late cameo from Abdul Samad (27 off 12) helped them reach 171/7 in 20 overs. Arshdeep Singh (3/43) was the standout bowler for PBKS, while Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Maxwell, and Yuzvendra Chahal also chipped in with wickets.
PBKS Dominates the Chase
PBKS chased down the target in just 16.2 overs, losing only two wickets. Although Priyansh Arya (8) fell early, Prabhsimran Singh (69 off 34), Shreyas Iyer (52 off 30), and Nehal Wadhera (43 off 25)** ensured an easy victory.
“The idea was to get a slow wicket. I think the slower balls were sticking in. We got to learn from this game and move forward. There are a lot of positives, cannot say much,” Pant added.
For LSG, Digvesh Rathi (2/30 in 4 overs) was the only bowler to make an impact.
Points Table Update
With this win, PBKS moved to second place in the points table, making it two wins in two games. Meanwhile, LSG slipped to sixth with just one win in three matches.
LSG will need to bounce back quickly as they continue to search for momentum and better execution at their home ground. 🚀