"Rishabh played well": Ishan Kishan points out Rishabh Pant's innings led to SRH's defeat vs LSG in IPL 2026

The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 has been amazing so far. In the second double header of the IPL, the first game of Sunday was between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). Both sides have different starts; however, in this game, LSG outpowered SRH by 5 wickets.

LSG captain Rishabh Pant won the toss and elected to field first. The Super Giants had the exact start they needed, as Mohammed Shami was excellent in his first two overs, picking up the wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head, and finished off the spell with 9/2 in his four overs. Prince Yadav dismissed Ishan Kishan with a sensational delivery.

Klaasen and Nitish Reddy saved SRH

Later on, Liam Livingstone, who was brought into the side, could not have much impact as he was unlucky playing a lap shot, which hit his shoulder and went to Rishabh Pant, as they were down to 26/4 at one stage. However, from there, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen stitched a 100 partnership between them off 57 balls.

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Klaasen scored his second consecutive fifty, bringing up the fifty in 33 balls. Nitish Reddy also scored his fifty in the match, which was his first in IPL 2026; he brought it up in just 30 balls. The two batters turned the game for the Orange Army by changing gears at the right time.

Klaasen was also dismissed after scoring 62 runs. Avesh Khan picked up two wickets in two balls to bring LSG back in the game. After the flurry of wickets, SRH, who were sightseeing 160+, had to settle for a score of 156/9 runs in their 20 overs.

Rishabh Pant shines in IPL

LSG openers, Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, had a decent start as the two openers played watchfully with the pitch being a bit slow. However, Marsh was back in the pavilion after scoring 14 off 12 balls. LSG were 53/1 after the end of the powerplay, and Aiden Markram scored the majority of the runs.

The Proteas captain played a fine innings against his former franchise as he was dismissed on the score of 45 off 27 balls. Rishabh Pant is taking charge and anchoring the innings alongside Ayush Badoni as both batters keep rotating the strike. But Badoni was back in the pavilion after playing a needless shot for 12.

Soon Nicholas Pooran was run out in the most bizarre way as he, after playing a sweep shot, thought the ball went behind the keeper; however, it was in the hands of Ishan Kishan, and he took the wickets off. Pant had other plans as he scored his first half-century of the IPL 2026 and won the game for his side. He was unbeaten with a score of 68 runs, though the SRH vs LSG match went down to the last ball.

It was a good game- Ishan Kishan

After the loss Ishan Kishan said, "It was a good game, total not enough. Bowlers bowled to the plan, credit to the fielders too but one or two boundaries can take the match here and there. Losing four wickets early puts pressure on other batters, but credit to Klaasy and Nitish for taking us past 150."

"Rishabh played well when they were losing wickets. Defending that total was tough, taking it to the last over gives us positive notes. Harsh bowled exceptionally well, hope he'll continue.

Also Read: SRH hit historic low after humiliating 35/4 in 10 overs vs LSG in IPL 2026