Rishabh Pant sounded relieved after turning early-season pressure into a composed, not-out 68 as Lucknow Super Giants secured a five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad to claim their first win of IPL 2026. Pant pointed out that cricket rarely offers a “perfect” script, but insisted the key is focusing on what the team can control. “There is never a perfect match, but at the same time, you’ve got to appreciate what’s happening inside… the only conversation is about executing the plan,” he said. After an opening defeat to Delhi and a seventh-place finish last season, this was a result LSG couldn’t afford to postpone, and the manner of the chase suggested they were ready to reset quickly.
Sunday’s game swung decisively when LSG’s bowlers did their part before the batters took over. With Sunrisers setting a target of 157, the run chase demanded patience and precision, and Pant delivered both. He absorbed the pressure in the middle phase, picked his moments carefully, and ensured there wasn’t a late wobble that could have turned the chase into a scramble. Even when Jaydev Unadkat managed two dot balls in the final over, the match was already effectively in LSG’s hands. Pant had done the crucial work earlier in the chase, and he guided his team over the line without unnecessary drama, finishing by clearing the boundary when it mattered to close out the win.
Still, the foundation for the successful chase was laid by Mohammed Shami, who struck with sharpness right from the start. The new-ball impact turned the contest in Hyderabad’s direction for a brief moment, but it quickly flipped. Shami dismissed Abhishek Sharma for a duck and then removed Travis Head soon after, forcing SRH to chase from the outset rather than building any rhythm. His figures of 2 for 9 kept the pressure constant and ensured Sunrisers never found the freedom to accelerate. When the innings ended, Hyderabad finished on 156 for nine.
Shami also underlined the importance of the result for LSG’s momentum. “For us, it was very important,” he said. “Because we had already lost the first match… it was very important for us to win this match for the momentum. And as soon as it started, we had to win.” The way LSG executed that idea with the ball—sharper during the early exchanges, tighter through the middle overs, and composed in the closing phase—highlighted a contrast to the uncertainty of their opening outing.
With the captaincy spotlight on him, Pant stayed grounded and consistent in his evaluation of the performance. “You’ve got to be critical, but at the same time, we are looking to learn as a team and get better with each and every match,” he said, pointing to the bigger picture beyond a single breakthrough.
The relief after the winning runs was evident, too. Owner Sanjeev Goenka stood in the stands as the chase concluded, a visible reaction that reflected both the emotional weight of a first-season win and the context of having started with a loss.
This first victory of the campaign—though delivered with control—won’t be allowed to define LSG’s entire season. But it can certainly place them back on track, giving them momentum for what comes next. With Mohammed Shami setting the tone and Rishabh Pant steering the chase, Lucknow now have the momentum on their side.
