Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced a heartbreaking defeat against Delhi Capitals (DC) in their IPL 2025 opener at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vizag on Sunday night. Despite setting a daunting target of 212, LSG couldn’t hold their nerve in the final overs, allowing DC to sneak away with a victory that had seemed improbable at 65/5.
Ashutosh Sharma’s explosive half-century and a quickfire 39 from Vipraj Nigam turned the tide for DC, sealing a thrilling win with just three balls and a wicket to spare. Rishabh Pant’s debut as LSG captain didn’t go as planned. Acquired for a record-breaking ₹27 crore at last year’s IPL mega auction, Pant struggled with both bat and gloves.
His six-ball duck added pressure and a missed stumping opportunity in the final over proved costly, potentially costing LSG a memorable win. Additionally, questions were raised about his decision to use Shardul Thakur for just two overs, despite the bowler’s impactful first over that claimed two crucial wickets.
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Post-match, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen engaging in a conversation with Pant and head coach Justin Langer, a sight that quickly circulated on social media.
After failing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in three seasons, LSG made significant changes, including releasing former captain KL Rahul. Goenka’s pep talk to the team emphasized the positives, focusing on their impressive Powerplay performances in both innings.
“𝐿𝑒𝑡’𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑠, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑” 🙌 pic.twitter.com/AXE8XqiQCo
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) March 25, 2025
“There were plenty of positives to take away from this game — in our batting, in our bowling,” Sanji Goenka remarked. “The way we handled the Powerplay was exceptional. We are a young team, and this is just the beginning. Let’s regroup and aim for a better result in our next game.”
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LSG will aim to bounce back when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday, hoping to put this disappointing result behind them and kickstart their campaign.
