Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant took the high road after his team suffered a heartbreaking one-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals (DC) in a high-voltage IPL 2025 clash in Visakhapatnam.
The Decisive Moment: Missed Stumping & Last-Over Drama
With six runs needed off six balls, Pant made a bold decision to hand the ball to Shahbaz Ahmed. On the first delivery:
- Mohit Sharma missed the ball, and Pant fumbled a stumping opportunity.
- He opted for DRS, hoping for an LBW decision, but the ball was missing the stumps.
- Next ball: Mohit took a single, bringing Ashutosh Sharma (66) on strike*.
- Final blow: Ashutosh launched a six over long-off, sealing a remarkable victory for DC.
Despite the pressure, Pant remained composed, acknowledging that luck plays a role in cricket:
🗣️ “These things happen in cricket. You can’t focus on them too much. Instead, we need to play better cricket and get our basics right.”
LSG’s Explosive Batting Effort
After being sent in to bat, Mitchell Marsh (72) and Nicholas Pooran (75) put on a batting masterclass, helping LSG post 209/8.
- Marsh toyed with DC’s bowlers, smashing boundaries at will.
- Pooran was ruthless, especially against spinners, hitting four consecutive sixes off Tristan Stubbs.
- David Miller (36 off 16) provided late fireworks to push LSG beyond 200.
Delhi Capitals’ Resilient Run-Chase
LSG’s bowlers had DC reeling at 65/5 in 7 overs, seemingly on the brink of defeat. However, the middle and lower order staged a heroic comeback:
- Axar Patel (22) & Faf du Plessis (29) provided a brief counterattack.
- Tristan Stubbs (34) and Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15) played crucial cameos.
- Ashutosh Sharma (66) led the charge, smashing the winning six.*
Pant acknowledged the importance of DC’s partnerships in turning the tide:
🗣️ “They had a couple of good partnerships—Stubbs, Ashutosh, and Nigam. Nigam played really well and took the game away from us.”
Looking Ahead: LSG Focuses on Improvement
Despite the loss, Pant saw positives in LSG’s performance and emphasized sticking to the basics:
🗣️ “We had to keep doing the basics right more often. We felt the pressure, but we’re still settling in. Lots of positives to take from this match.”
Match Summary
🏏 LSG: 209/8 (20 overs) – Marsh 72, Pooran 75; Mukesh Kumar 3/42
🏏 DC: 212/9 (19.4 overs) – Ashutosh Sharma 66, Vipraj Nigam 39, Stubbs 34
✅ DC won by 1 wicket
A thrilling encounter ended with DC completing their biggest-ever IPL run chase, while Pant’s LSG will aim to bounce back stronger in their upcoming fixtures.