Rishabh Pant Critiques LSG Batting After IPL Defeat to Rajasthan Royals

Captain's Reflection on Team Performance

Following their fifth loss in the IPL 2026 season, captain Rishabh Pant expressed disappointment in the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) batsmen. In their match against the Rajasthan Royals, LSG was set a target of 160 runs but fell short, getting bowled out for just 119 in 18 overs. None of the LSG players managed to score more than 25 runs, with opener Mitchell Marsh being the only one to reach 55 runs off 41 balls before being dismissed in the 16th over.

Ayush Badoni, typically a finisher, opened the innings but was run out without scoring. Pant, who batted at number three, also failed to make an impact, departing for a duck. Aiden Markram similarly struggled to contribute. Pant commented, "It's tough to explain. Our batting is clearly letting us down, and as a team, we are disappointed. However, we must seek solutions internally. We could have taken more time while batting and not made excuses, including myself. The bowlers performed admirably, especially after the last match. As a batting unit, we need to step up and support our bowlers. Despite the setbacks, we must remain positive and believe in our capabilities to turn things around," he stated.

Vice-captain Nicholas Pooran added 22 runs off 25 balls to the total. Jofra Archer stood out with the ball, taking crucial wickets, including that of Aiden Markram, as well as Mayank Yadav and Mohinn Khan.