Rishabh Pant Reflects on LSG's Batting Struggles After Defeat to Gujarat Titans

Rishabh Pant's Post-Match Insights

After a seven-wicket loss to the Gujarat Titans (GT) in their IPL 2026 match at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant acknowledged that his team did not score enough runs. During the post-match presentation, he noted that the pitch demanded a higher total, indicating that LSG's performance fell short despite some promising moments. "Clearly, we didn't score enough runs. The bowlers did well, but on a pitch like this, a score between 170 and 180 is ideal. Unfortunately, we kept losing wickets, and they applied enough pressure to take us down," Pant remarked.

He mentioned that LSG had chances to change the game's momentum but failed to seize those opportunities. "We had chances throughout the match, but we just couldn't capitalize on them," he added.

Pant expressed confidence in his batting lineup, emphasizing that the tournament is still in its early stages and there is no need for concern. He trusts that the experienced players will step up in future matches. "We have a strong lineup, and we’re not putting pressure on the players, especially the seniors who know how to handle these situations," he stated.

The LSG captain remained optimistic about the team's ability to recover, highlighting the belief within the squad despite consecutive losses. "There are times when performance dips, but the trust and belief in our camp are strong. We know good performances are just around the corner. It's all about staying positive," Pant concluded.

Gujarat Titans' Commanding Victory

In the match, Gujarat Titans showcased a commanding all-round performance, defeating LSG by seven wickets at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, thanks to an impressive bowling display from Prasidh Krishna and solid half-centuries from Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler.

Prasidh Krishna's Impactful Bowling

After being invited to bat first by GT captain Shubman Gill, LSG managed to score only 164 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs, despite a valiant effort from Aiden Markram. The innings struggled to gain momentum as GT's bowlers consistently took wickets, with Prasidh Krishna delivering a standout performance, taking 4 wickets for 28 runs. He dismissed key players including Aiden Markram, Ayush Badoni, Nicholas Pooran, and Mukul Choudhary, effectively dismantling 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 surge from George Linde (16 runs off 10 balls) and Mohammed Shami (12 runs off 5 balls), LSG fell short of the 170-run mark.

Gill and Buttler's Partnership Seals the Game

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 their scoring. Gill was particularly aggressive against Mohammed Shami, hitting multiple boundaries in a single over.

Although Sai Sudharsan was dismissed for 15 runs off 14 balls by Digvesh Rathi, GT maintained control as Jos Buttler joined Gill and increased the scoring rate. The pair quickly surpassed the 50-run mark in just over five overs and dominated the middle overs of the chase.

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 fours, marking his second consecutive half-century and achieving 14,000 runs in T20 cricket.

Their partnership of 84 runs was crucial, and although Prince Yadav dismissed Gill, caught behind by Rishabh Pant, and Mohammed Shami later took out Buttler, GT was already in a commanding position at 129 for 2. Washington Sundar (21 runs off 13 balls) and Rahul Tewatia (10 runs) 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.