Rishabh Pant’s struggles in a chase continued as Lucknow Super Giants, captained by him, fell short against Rajasthan Royals. Pant was dismissed for a duck after being caught early, and the batting collapse that followed left LSG playing catch-up throughout.
Quick facts
- LSG chased a target of 159 against Rajasthan Royals.
- Rishabh Pant was out for a three-ball duck, dismissed in the second over.
- Nandre Burger removed Pant with a length delivery at 142.7 kph.
- Ayush Badoni was run out for 0 on the final ball of the first over.
- Rajasthan finished on 159 for 6.
- Mohammed Shami took 2 for 30, while Mohsin Khan took 2 for 17.
- Prince Yadav also contributed with two wickets.
Pant’s dismissal arrived in the second over when Nandre Burger struck with a ball that held just outside the off-stump channel at 142.7 kph. On earlier deliveries, Pant had stayed more grounded, moving down the track with less intent. This time, he went looking for a big heave, dropping to one knee and slashing hard across the line.
The shot didn’t carry—he only managed a faint edge behind. Dhruv Jurel was in position to complete the catch, and the early wicket underlined the mounting pressure LSG were already absorbing after the start of the innings.
The chase suffered another jolt almost immediately. On the last delivery of the first over, Ayush Badoni was run out for a duck during a botched attempt to steal a single. The mix-up with Mitchell Marsh ended badly, with substitute fielder Ravi Singh breaking the deadlock by hitting the stumps directly at the keeper’s end, leaving Badoni well short.
Rajasthan keep it tight, LSG fold early
With only 159 to chase, LSG still couldn’t settle. They lost two key batters inside the first two overs without adding runs, a rapid collapse that shifted the entire match script and tightened the margin for error for the middle order.
Earlier, Rajasthan’s total of 159 for 6 had been built under strong control from LSG’s bowling. The franchise’s all-Indian pace and spin options set a disciplined tone, limiting boundaries and forcing wickets at crucial moments.
Mohammed Shami spearheaded the effort with figures of 2 for 30. He struck in succession, first removing Yashasvi Jaiswal and then getting Dhruv Jurel in the very next spell. Mohsin Khan followed up impressively too, taking 2 for 17 and delivering the key breakthrough of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Prince Yadav added to the damage as LSG’s bowlers kept pressing with accurate lines and a high number of dot balls. Even with the early wickets and building pressure, Rajasthan were able to reach a fighting total—but it was never quite enough to let LSG chase with comfort.
In the end, despite a strong bowling showing from LSG, the chase again became defined by Pant’s recurring problem at the top. The early dismissals turned the pursuit into a difficult assignment, and with LSG now needing results to arrest a losing streak, this failure only adds weight to the need for a quick turnaround.
