Rishabh Pant turned captaincy instincts into match-winning authority as Lucknow Super Giants edged out Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday. The left-handed batter stayed unbeaten on 68 off 52 balls, steering LSG to their maiden victory of the IPL 2026 campaign after a tense, momentum-swinging chase. Even though the finish looked decisive, the game repeatedly slipped into Hyderabad’s hands before Pant finally took control in the last over.
Quick facts
- Venue: Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium
- Match: Lucknow Super Giants vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (LSG’s first win of IPL 2026)
- Result: LSG won by five wickets with two balls remaining
- Key innings: Rishabh Pant 68* off 52
- Last-over finish: Jaydev Unadkat bowled the final over; Pant struck three boundaries to close out the chase
- Player of the Match: Mohammed Shami
- Shami’s figures/highlights: conceded nine runs; dismissed Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head
- Next fixture: LSG vs Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, April 9 at Ekana, Lucknow
In the final over delivered by Jaydev Unadkat, Pant accelerated in a hurry, finding the rope three times to seal the required total. The winning shot triggered an immediate reaction from LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka, who appeared visibly emotional as the result finally landed. Moments after, he was seen embracing Pant on the ground and sharing a brief word with him.
LSG’s chase began slowly for Pant, but he steadily raised the tempo once the match tightened. He also had to cope with regular setbacks at the other end, yet managed to keep the innings from unraveling at the worst possible time. With partners falling, the job became more about stability and timing—and Pant delivered both when the pressure peaked.
Batting experiment reshaped
The idea of using Pant as an opener lasted only a single game. While he started the innings in LSG’s first IPL 2026 match alongside Mitchell Marsh—scoring seven before being run out at the non-striker’s end—the SRH game saw a change. Against Hyderabad, Pant came in at No. 3, with Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh opening, and Nicholas Pooran operating at No. 5.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, the chase was built on discipline early and resistance later, but it ultimately fell short as LSG found an exit route in the last stretch. Pant’s finishing in the closing over ensured Hyderabad’s late fight did not turn into a comeback.
Mohammed Shami was awarded Player of the Match for a tightly controlled spell against SRH. He conceded just nine runs and claimed the wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, a two-pronged impact that set up Hyderabad’s periods of control in the game.
Goenka–Pant talk draws attention
Following LSG’s earlier defeat to the Delhi Capitals earlier in the week, Goenka was spotted holding an animated conversation with Pant and head coach Justin Langer. That interaction drew criticism and raised questions, with some wondering what the owner was pushing for and whether the messages were landing as intended.
A day later, LSG’s social media team shared a video of the same moment, suggesting that not everyone had the full context. The short clip showed Pant, Goenka, and Langer laughing and talking lightly, offering a different picture from the initial reaction.
With the pressure of results and the scrutiny around leadership talk, Pant’s unbeaten run did the talking on the field. His ability to steady the chase, absorb the loss of partners, and then strike decisively in the final over ensured LSG closed the match with breathing space.
LSG will now shift attention to their next IPL 2026 outing against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, April 9. The match is scheduled for Ekana in Lucknow.
