Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant admitted the squad is in need of a reset after their fifth straight defeat, a chaotic and mistake-strewn contest against Kolkata Knight Riders that ultimately slipped into a Super Over. The result left LSG stranded at the bottom of the points table, with the captain pointing to the need for renewed clarity, responsibility, and calm after a run of tough performances.
Key takeaways
- Rishabh Pant said LSG “definitely” need a break following their fifth consecutive loss.
- The defeat against KKR took Lucknow to the bottom spot in the points standings.
- Nicholas Pooran’s recent returns are a concern, with 82 runs at an average of 10.25 and a strike rate of 81.18.
- In the Super Over, Pooran was dismissed on the first ball, and LSG managed only three deliveries in total.
- KKR’s final surge came via four consecutive sixes in the last over, helping them reach 155.
- Pant explained why legspinner Digvesh Rathi was used in the closing over, citing the need to bowl through key phases despite not getting wickets earlier.
Captain calls for a refresh and collective accountability
Speaking during the presentation, Pant stressed that the team needs to regroup mentally and recharge. He said the side should “refresh” and that while pressure is unavoidable in T20 cricket, the answers must come from within rather than externally. Pant also urged the group to take ownership as a unit, adding that responsibility can’t be limited to one or two individuals.
He further acknowledged that positivity may not feel abundant right now, but insisted that after the break the outlook would improve for the entire group. Pant made it clear that the team is looking to trust its players in difficult moments and expects improvements as they move on.
Pooran’s slump and faith in tough moments
One of LSG’s main concerns has been Nicholas Pooran’s form. He has accumulated only 82 runs so far, with an average of 10.25 and a strike rate of 81.18. Despite the lean stretch, LSG still backed him to bat in the Super Over alongside Pant. Pooran was dismissed on the first ball, and Lucknow’s Super Over ended after just three balls, with the next batter, Aiden Markram, also going for a duck.
Pant said the team discussed the situation and that the decision to back Pooran came from trust in a player even when he is not at his best. He noted that Pooran may not be in the “best form of his life,” but maintained that such setbacks can reverse, especially when a team stays firm in its belief. Pant also reiterated that there were no excuses to hide behind and that the focus should remain on the positive path forward after the break.
Fast start, then late chaos as KKR reach 155
LSG’s innings started with promise after choosing to bowl. They curtailed KKR to 31 for 4 by the seventh over, leaving the batting side in trouble at 129 for 7 after 19 overs. However, the contest swung dramatically in the final over when Rinku Singh struck four sixes in succession off Digvesh Rathi, lifting KKR to a much more competitive 155. Lucknow were left needing something extraordinary, and KKR only just managed to stay in the match before the game was forced into a Super Over.
Why Rathi bowled the last over
Pant addressed the tactical choice of bowling legspinner Rathi in the closing over. He said cricket often offers chances to change momentum through bowling, but that the bowler also has to deliver hard overs when the match demands it. Pant explained that he had to give Rathi overs in the middle stages as the wicket-taking plan hadn’t worked earlier, and that the thinking behind the decision was driven by the need to keep pushing for breakthroughs despite setbacks.
He also added that having too many minds or too many voices on the ground can complicate execution, reinforcing his message that the team must simplify their approach and stick to accountability when the pressure rises.
