Lucknow Super Giants found a late lifeline from debutant Mukul Choudhary as they clawed their way to two points against Kolkata Knight Riders, salvaging the result after a tense finish at Eden Gardens. The win, however, did not fully hide the franchise’s ongoing batting worries—particularly around Rishabh Pant and Nicholas Pooran, whose impact has not matched expectations across recent outings. Even though Pant played a role in LSG’s earlier triumph over SRH, his batting rhythm has looked unsettled, and against KKR he could only muster 10 runs at a crucial juncture when the team required greater stability in the middle overs.
As Pant was dismissed, pressure quickly spread through the chase, and for a stretch it seemed Lucknow might slip further off the target. The contest swung only when Mukul Choudhary settled in and steadied the innings with a composed knock, ultimately helping LSG escape with the points. Still, the broader pattern of inconsistency—especially in the middle order—remains a lingering concern for the team.
Kaif pinpoints what Pant must do differently
Former India batter Mohammad Kaif weighed in sharply on Pant’s dismissal, arguing that the middle order needs more ownership and control, particularly during the phases where matches are often decided. Looking at Lucknow’s chase, Kaif suggested Pant missed an important chance to anchor the innings after getting through the early part relatively smoothly. With LSG already positioned well during the powerplay—having reached 41 runs in the first five overs—Kaif felt the experienced campaigner should have been able to bat deeper and close out the chase.
“…the team needed him (Pant) to stay till the end,” Kaif said on Star Sports. “He is an experienced player, having been in the IPL since 2016. The situation when he came out to bat was not particularly difficult. LSG had already scored 41 in the first five overs. One batter needed to take responsibility and bat through the chase. That role was meant for Pant.”
Need for consistency and better chase management
Kaif went on to stress that Pant must demonstrate stronger consistency, not only as a batter but also in his role as captain. In his view, producing one successful innings is not enough, and the next step is learning how to read match situations and adjust accordingly. He underlined that in chase situations, the captain’s job is to remain at the crease through the final stages and guide the team’s momentum.
“As captain, if you don’t take responsibility, you cannot help your team win games. Yes, he did well against SRH, but he needs to find consistency. Playing one good knock and then failing in the next few games is not enough. He has to read the match situation better and learn when to shift gears. A captain’s job is to stay till the end in a chase, and that is something Pant must work on,” he added.
