Rishabh Pant’s first outing as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain in IPL 2025 was one to forget. With the bat, he was dismissed for a six-ball duck, and then his former team, Delhi Capitals (DC), chased down 210, thanks to Ashutosh Sharma’s unbeaten 66 off 31 balls.
Could LSG have posted a bigger total, especially after being 133 for 1 in the 12th over with Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran in top form? Did the last five overs—where they managed just 39 runs—cost them the game? Pant, however, felt they had enough.
“I think we had enough runs on the board,” Pant told JioHotstar after the one-wicket loss in Visakhapatnam. “Our batters played really well. We might have lost momentum between overs 13-17, but it was still a good score on this wicket.”
Klusener: “We Left 20-30 Runs Out There”
“If I have to put a finger on it, I would say we probably left 20 or 30 runs with the bat out there. That’s why we were under pressure while bowling,” Klusener said. “I thought DC finished well with the bat, but we didn’t score enough runs, given our batting power. The pitch had something for everyone, including a bit of spin.”
While Pant dismissed the role of dew, Klusener acknowledged its impact but emphasized LSG’s inability to capitalize on their strong start.
“Bowling was a bit rougher than batting today. But given our experience and firepower, we should have put up a bigger total. We play again in three days, so the focus now is on keeping the youngsters positive and believing in their abilities.”
LSG’s Bowling Woes Due to Injuries
LSG’s struggles with injuries have left them thin on pace options, forcing them to rely on just two frontline pacers—Shardul Thakur and debutant Prince Yadav—against DC. Key bowlers like Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Akash Deep were all unavailable.
“At the moment, we don’t have a lot of reserves with the ball, so we need to mix and match until players return,” Klusener told Cricbuzz when asked about LSG’s bowling plans. “That’s the reality, but it’s also an opportunity for some young players.”
“I was really pleased for Shardul Thakur—two wickets in the first over. He’s been with us for some time and got his chance this IPL.”
Pant Dismisses “Luck Factor” Talk
Pant, meanwhile, preferred not to dwell on missed opportunities, including a stumping chance in the final over that could have sealed the game for LSG.
“Luck plays a little part in the game for sure,” Pant said in his post-match interview with ESPNcricinfo. “If the ball had missed the pad, it could’ve been a big stumping chance. But instead of focusing on luck, we should focus on playing good cricket.”
With their next game in Hyderabad, LSG will be hoping to bounce back strong, but as Klusener pointed out, it will take a collective effort—especially from their young guns—to turn things around.
Also Read : Mayank Yadav Faces Setback in Recovery; LSG Struggles with Injuries Ahead of IPL 2025
