Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant felt his side had posted a defendable total, but lapses in the field proved decisive as they went down by five wickets to Chennai Super Kings in an IPL 2026 clash on Sunday. After Josh Inglis produced an outstanding 85, LSG looked in control at 203 for eight, only for CSK to chase successfully in 19.2 overs thanks to a rapid innings from Urvil Patel, who struck 65 off 23 balls. The defeat leaves Lucknow with eight losses from 11 outings, effectively ending their playoff hopes.
Key takeaways
- Rishabh Pant said LSG had “enough” runs, but fielding mistakes—including dropped chances—hurt their cause.
- Josh Inglis anchored the innings with an 85, helping LSG reach 203/8.
- Urvil Patel’s 65 off 23 powered CSK’s chase, finishing the job in 19.2 overs.
- CSK won by five wickets, keeping Lucknow’s playoff qualification hopes alive no longer.
- Lucknow’s record now reads eight defeats in 11 matches.
LSG’s big start, then the missed opportunities
In the powerplay, Lucknow struck aggressively. Inglis took charge early, launching a brutal assault on the CSK attack to drive the visitors to 77 without loss after five overs. From there, the innings eventually culminated at 203 for eight, as Inglis’ 85-run effort stood out among the highlights.
Despite the solid platform, Pant acknowledged that LSG fell short of what they had set out to achieve. In his view, the total they managed was not enough once the standard of fielding slipped—too many chances were not taken cleanly. He also pointed out that the pressure phase in the opening overs was something they expected to face when playing at Chennai.
CSK chase: Urvil’s blitz and a late twist
Chennai’s run chase was powered by Urvil Patel, who delivered a swashbuckling knock of 65 from just 23 balls. His acceleration allowed CSK to overhaul the target in 19.2 overs, sealing a five-wicket win over Lucknow.
Urvil later said the team’s instructions from the coaches were simple: keep his shape and focus on hitting the ball well. He added that Ruturaj Gaikwad had advised him the wicket was a touch low, urging him to be ready for the conditions. Urvil credited the plan for helping him bat the way he did.
On LSG’s bowling decisions during the chase, Pant explained the thinking behind not handing the final over to Shahbaz Ahmed. He said the call came down to backing experience, citing Aiden Markram as someone who has done it successfully on multiple occasions, and expressing confidence in each individual’s role.
With the match in the balance late, Markram faced Shivam Dube—defending 10 runs off the final six deliveries did not go to plan, as Dube struck two sixes off him to swing momentum further in CSK’s favour.
