'Angry' Rishabh Pant orders LSG to get 'basics right', calls Ashutosh Sharma-starrer DC 'lucky' after IPL thriller

Under the leadership of Rishabh Pant, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) started their journey in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 with a match against Axar Patel-led Delhi Capitals (DC).

Rishabh Pant's Lucknow Super Giants lost against the Delhi Capitals by 1 wicket in the nail-biting fourth match of the season at the Dr. YSR Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.

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I think our top-order batters played really well - Rishabh Pant

Batting first, LSG posted a huge total of 209/8 on the board, thanks to sensational batting performances from Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran.

While defending the target, LSG reduced DC to 3/7, but the bowlers failed to capitalize on the momentum and allowed them to complete the run-chase, with Ashutosh Sharma starring with the bat.

Speaking after the match, Rishabh Pant said that their top-order did a good job and they would take positives from the match. Rishabh Pant said:

" I think our top-order batters played really well and I think it was a pretty good score on this wicket.

"As a team we are looking to take positives from every match and as a team we are looking to learn from it (every match.) The more basics we do right, the more it is going to be better for us in the future."

Pant added that the trio of Ashutosh Sharma, Tristan Stubbs, and Vipraj Nigam took the game away from Lucknow Super Giants. He stated:

"We got early wickets, but we knew it was a good wicket to bat on. We had to keep doing the basics right more often than not. I think they had a couple of good partnerships. One with Stubbs, with Ashutosh and one with one other guy (Vipraj Nigam.) I think he (Nigam) did a pretty good job and took the game away from us."

There was enough for the bowlers, but I think we could have done the basics right - Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant further slammed his bowlers for not getting basics right and said:

"There was enough for the bowlers, but I think we could have done the basics right. We felt the pressure, we are still settling in, but a lots of positives to take from this match."

Rishabh Pant signed off by saying that luck played a huge role in the match in the favour of Delhi Capitals. He stated:

"Definitely luck plays a part in this game and if it could have missed his (Mohit Sharma's) pads, it was a chance for stumping. But these things happen in the game of cricket, you can't focus on these things, but rather you need to play better cricket."

How did LSG perform in the previous IPL match against DC?

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) suffered a 19-run defeat against Delhi Capitals (DC) in their previous match on May 14 in the Indian Premier League 2024 as they failed to chase down the 209-run target.

Bowling first, LSG struggled to contain DC’s batters. Though Arshad Khan (1/45) provided an early breakthrough by dismissing Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel (58) and Shai Hope (38) powered DC to 73/1 in the powerplay.

LSG’s spinners, especially Ravi Bishnoi (1/26), brought some control in the middle overs, but they were unable to stop Tristan Stubbs (57* off 25), who pushed DC to a huge score of 208/4.

Chasing the target, LSG began on a disastrous note as Ishant Sharma ran through their top order, leaving them reeling at 44/4. The explosive left-handed batter Nicholas Pooran counterattacked, smashing 61 off 27 balls with six fours and four sixes, keeping LSG in the hunt. However, his dismissal proved to be a turning point.

Despite LSG losing regular wickets, Arshad Khan emerged as the hero for his team and blasted a 33-ball 58*, including five sixes, to chase alive till the last over. But with 22 needed off the final six balls, Rasikh Salam held his nerve to seal the win for DC.