Rishabh Pant Reflects on LSG's Defeat Against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026
Post-Match Insights from Rishabh Pant
In Lucknow, Rishabh Pant, the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), acknowledged that his team fell short in their batting performance, leading to a seven-wicket loss against Gujarat Titans (GT) during their IPL 2026 match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
During the post-match presentation, Pant noted that the pitch demanded a stronger score, indicating that LSG's total was insufficient despite some promising moments throughout their innings.
He stated, "Clearly, we didn't score enough runs. The bowlers did well, but on a pitch like this, a target of 170 to 180 would have been ideal. Unfortunately, we lost wickets at crucial times, which put us under pressure."
Pant mentioned that while LSG had chances to turn the game around, they were unable to seize those pivotal moments.
"We had opportunities, but we just couldn't capitalize on them," he added.
The captain expressed confidence in his batting lineup, emphasizing that the tournament is still in its early stages and there is no reason for alarm within the team. He expressed faith in the seasoned players to perform in future matches.
"We have a strong lineup, and it's early in the tournament. We're not putting pressure on our players, especially the experienced ones who know how to handle these situations," he remarked.
Pant conveyed optimism that the team would recover quickly, highlighting the belief within the squad despite facing consecutive losses.
"There are times when performance dips, but the trust and belief in our camp remain strong. We know our form will return soon, and we maintain a positive outlook," he concluded.
Match Summary: Gujarat Titans vs. Lucknow Super Giants
In the match itself, Gujarat Titans showcased a commanding all-round performance, defeating LSG by seven wickets at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, bolstered by an impressive bowling display from Prasidh Krishna and solid half-centuries from Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler.
After being invited to bat first by GT's captain Shubman Gill, LSG managed to score 164 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs, with Aiden Markram providing a fighting effort. The innings struggled to gain momentum as GT's bowlers consistently took wickets, with Prasidh Krishna delivering a standout performance, claiming 4 wickets for 28 runs. He dismissed key players including Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, and Mukul Choudhary, which severely weakened LSG's batting order.
LSG started with intent through Mitchell Marsh, who scored 11 runs quickly, and Rishabh Pant, who added 18 runs, but both were unable to convert their starts into significant contributions. Markram's 30 runs off 21 balls, featuring five fours and a six, was the highest score for LSG. Despite a late effort from George Linde (16 off 10) and Mohammed Shami (12 off 5), they fell short of reaching 170 runs.
In response, GT comfortably chased down the target of 165 runs, finishing at 165 for 3 in just 18.4 overs, with eight balls remaining. The chase was anchored by Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, who began cautiously before accelerating. Gill was particularly aggressive against Mohammed Shami, scoring 20 runs in one over.
Although Sudharsan was dismissed for 15 runs off 14 balls by Digvesh Rathi, GT maintained control as Jos Buttler joined Gill, propelling the innings forward. The pair quickly surpassed the 50-run mark in just 5.5 overs and dominated the middle overs.
Gill reached his second consecutive fifty, scoring 56 runs off 40 balls, including six fours and a six, while also surpassing 4,000 runs in IPL history. Buttler was even more explosive, scoring 60 runs off 37 balls with 11 boundaries, marking his second consecutive half-century and achieving 14,000 runs in T20 cricket.
Their partnership of 84 runs was crucial before Prince Yadav dismissed Gill, caught behind by Rishabh Pant. Mohammed Shami later took Buttler's wicket, but by that time, GT was well in control at 129 for 2.
Washington Sundar (21* off 13) and Rahul Tewatia (10*) ensured a smooth finish as GT sealed the victory at 165 for 3. For LSG, Shami, Prince Yadav, and Digvesh Rathi each took one wicket, but their efforts were insufficient to defend the total.