The Lucknow Super Giants delivered a disciplined effort with the ball but failed to back it up with the bat, slipping to yet another defeat in IPL 2026. Hosting the Rajasthan Royals at the Ekana Stadium, LSG did well initially to restrict a dangerous batting lineup featuring Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, and Shimron Hetmyer to 159/6.
At one stage, Rajasthan were reeling at 77/5, but a composed unbeaten 43 from Ravindra Jadeja helped them recover and post a competitive total. LSG’s bowlers, particularly the pace unit, executed their plans effectively, making it a performance they would have hoped to build on.
However, the chase unravelled quickly. LSG’s batting lineup collapsed under pressure, managing just 119 in 18 overs. Only three batters reached double figures, while three were dismissed without scoring. The early damage proved decisive, with the team losing three wickets inside the first three overs — a setback they never recovered from.
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Captain Rishabh Pant did not shy away from addressing the issue. Reflecting on the loss, he admitted that the batting unit has consistently let the side down despite the bowlers putting in strong performances.
“I think it is difficult to explain. It’s definitely the batting that is letting us down… we need to look for answers inside,” Rishabh Pant said after the match. He also acknowledged that the team lacked application against the new ball and should have taken the chase deeper instead of playing rash shots early on.
Pant himself endured a forgettable outing, falling for a duck and adding to LSG’s early collapse. Despite the disappointment, he remained optimistic about a turnaround, stressing that the squad still possesses enough firepower in both departments.
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“It’s disappointing, but we have to keep our heads high. We believe we can still turn things around,” he added.
Ending on a lighter note, Pant shared a brief moment of humour with broadcaster Simon Doull, but the bigger concern remains — LSG’s campaign is slipping, and time is running out as they sit ninth on the table.
