Rishabh Pant, one of the most expensive players in the IPL, surprised everyone by walking out to bat at No. 7 during a crucial match against Delhi Capitals. With just two balls left in the innings, Pant was unable to make an impact, scoring a duck as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) posted a modest total of 159 for 6.
The decision to promote Abdul Samad ahead of Pant backfired, as Samad managed only 2 runs from 8 deliveries. Pant later tried to justify the decision by saying the team wanted to “capitalise” on the pitch early, but his explanation seemed far from convincing. “We sent Samad to capitalise… but we got stuck in the wicket,” Pant said, attempting to explain the tactical misstep after the eight-wicket defeat.
Toss and Pitch Conditions Blamed for Loss
Pant went on to blame the toss and pitch conditions in Lucknow for the team’s underwhelming performance. According to him, batting second on that pitch is always easier, giving the chasing team a clear advantage. “We knew we were 20 runs short… Toss played a big part,” he remarked, adding that teams bowling first get more assistance from the wicket.
However, he also emphasized that they weren’t looking for excuses. The LSG management also seemed to be experimenting with the Impact Player rule, unsuccessfully trying to slot in Mayank Yadav for Ayush Badoni. Pant mentioned that Mayank had just returned from the NCA, and the team was trying to integrate him into the playing XI as early as possible in the season.
Axar Patel Lauds DC’s Dominant Display
On the winning side, Delhi Capitals’ skipper Axar Patel was visibly pleased with his team’s performance. He felt the game was under their control from the start, even though early wickets were hard to come by. Once DC picked up two quick dismissals, the momentum swung decisively in their favor.
Axar, who returned to bowling form with four straight overs including three in the Powerplay, said he was nursing a slight injury earlier but felt good rhythm in this match. With the bat, he smashed four sixes in his unbeaten 34-run knock and emphasized that he always plays to his strengths, regardless of his batting position.
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