Rishabh Pant, the captain of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), remains hopeful about making it to the IPL play-offs even after their 37-run defeat against Punjab Kings. With only three matches left, Pant believes that winning all of them could keep their playoff hopes alive. LSG currently has 10 points from 11 games and sits seventh in the points table.
However, their negative net run-rate of -0.47 makes the path difficult. Pant admitted the chase of 236 runs was too high and accepted that mistakes in fielding added to the problem. “The dream is still alive. If we can win the next three matches, we can definitely turn around and do amazing things,” he said during the post-match presentation.
He added, “Definitely too many runs. When you drop crucial catches at the wrong time, it can hurt you badly.” The skipper acknowledged the team’s poor judgment while bowling early in the innings. “We thought it would do more, but we did not pick the length right at the start. But that is part and parcel of the game,” he reflected.
Team Struggles and Support for Players
Pant showed support for his top-order batters like Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, and Nicholas Pooran despite their recent struggles. He explained that it’s unrealistic to expect the top order to perform in every match. “It makes sense when your top order is batting well. Every match, you cannot hope for them to come off.
It is part of the game, we have to take it deep sometimes. We had too many runs to catch up on and that hurt us badly.” The team’s inability to build momentum early in the innings forced them into a difficult position. Even though the loss was disappointing, Rishabh Pant did not place the blame solely on individual players, emphasizing the collective responsibility.
Punjab Kings Celebrate Team Effort
On the other hand, Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer was thrilled with the victory. “Everyone stepped up at the right time, the contribution was immense from everyone,” he said. Iyer specifically praised Prabhsimran Singh’s powerful 91 off 48 balls, calling it a delight to watch. “The way he performed, it was exceptional and so pleasing to the eye.”
Iyer felt that PBKS’s success was a result of their brave and hardworking approach. “Was not thinking about stats or what is a good score to defend. We have been lucky, but the luck has been because of the hard work.” He also pointed out the need to improve fielding. “The only thing we need to correct is the awareness (in the field) and the way we move – that is the only box we have to tick off. Just back yourselves and your instincts – that has been working for us, not think too much about stats.”
Get the latest cricket news here, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
