NEW DELHI: Rishabh Pant didn’t try to soften his reaction after Lucknow Super Giants slumped to a ninth defeat of the season, yet the LSG captain stressed that a single result—and even an underwhelming campaign—would not alter his belief in the group. After LSG were beaten by Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in Jaipur on Tuesday, Pant let out a rare, emphatic outburst in the dressing room, arguing that the side’s ability still stands even though they are now out of the playoff chase.
“We are proud as a team, regardless of what our situation is right now. The kind of team we have, we know we can win this. Regardless of anything, we are confident enough as a team and as individuals,” Pant said after the match.
He continued, making the point even sharper: “It hasn’t gone our way, and everyone knows that, but that doesn’t take away the fact that we are a f***ing good team.”
Pant backs the squad despite another late-season collapse
Lucknow appeared to be in command after posting 220/5 on the generally good batting strip at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. However, the score did not hold up as Rajasthan Royals chased it down in 19.1 overs. Teen prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was the standout, striking a rapid 93 off 38 balls and leaving Pant’s bowling unit searching for answers throughout the chase.
Despite the imposing total, Pant admitted that the batting effort did not fully deliver when it mattered. “I think there are a few ways to look at it. In the middle overs and then in the last over, the way Jofra Archer bowled, I think it was really good. But we could have actually scored five or ten runs more on this kind of wicket when you get that kind of start, and we just couldn’t capitalise in the last over,” he said.
“Experience can’t be earned overnight”
Turning to the broader challenge of defending runs on batting-friendly pitches, Pant suggested bowlers often have to be near-perfect in those conditions. “It’s definitely a difficult one for sure because you always want to back your bowlers, but sometimes it’s hard. On a wicket like this, there is less margin for the bowlers. Sometimes you have to keep a simple plan, keep focusing one ball at a time and just try to execute,” he added.
Pant also underlined the role of experience when matches swing late, implying that LSG lacked that edge at crucial moments this season. “Experience is something you’re always going to miss. It can’t be earned overnight. It takes years for people to gain that experience, and definitely in pressure situations, that is one thing which keeps you ahead,” he said.
Why Shahbaz Ahmed was held back
In addition, Pant defended LSG’s decision to delay the introduction of Shahbaz Ahmed until the later stages of the chase. He said the call was deliberate, shaped by the match-up and tactical considerations against Rajasthan Royals’ left-handed batters.
Stay updated with the latest IPL Live Score, IPL news, follow the IPL schedule, check the IPL points table, and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.
