"Tough season, a lot of learning": Rishabh Pant after LSG's defeat to PBKS
Lucknow, May 24
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant admitted that his side endured a challenging IPL 2026 season after a seven-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings in their final group-stage match on Saturday night.
Reflecting on the loss, Pant said the team had to accept the result while focusing on learning and rebuilding for the future.
"It's a tough one, we have to bite the bullet, keep our head high, it's been a lot of learning, a tough season for us for sure," Pant said.
He added that LSG felt their total was competitive but acknowledged the advantage of batting second on a good surface.
"I think we scored enough. It's harder in the second innings because the batting gets easier; that's why everyone wants to field first," he said.
Pant also highlighted several positives from the campaign, naming key performers who contributed during the season.
"As a team, we want to look at the positives. Josh Inglis, Mitch Marsh, and Prince had a terrific season. Mohsin is coming back from injury ... Shami bhai. Definitely a lot of positives," he said.
Despite the disappointing finish, the LSG skipper expressed confidence in the team's ability to bounce back stronger next season.
"It's been a long season; we promise to come back stronger next year," Pant added.
Punjab Kings produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Lucknow Super Giants by seven wickets in their IPL 2026 clash in Lucknow, chasing down a target of 197 with ease.
Skipper Shreyas Iyer led from the front with a brilliant unbeaten maiden IPL century (101 off 51 balls), while Prabhsimran Singh contributed a fluent 69 off 39 balls as the duo powered PBKS to a strong finish and moved the side to fourth in the standings with 15 points.
Earlier, LSG posted 196/6 after a strong start from Josh Inglis (72 off 44) and a quickfire 37 from Abdul Samad, despite regular breakthroughs from Punjab bowlers, including Yuzvendra Chahal and Marco Jansen. However, their total proved insufficient as PBKS batters overhauled the target comfortably with an over to spare.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, LSG's season was a rollercoaster. Pant's captaincy has improved, but he needs to stop blaming dew and surfaces. Every team plays on the same pitch yaar. Shami bhai's comeback was the only silver lining for me. Hope they retain him next year! 🇮🇳
Tough season indeed, but credit to Shreyas Iyer for that century—pure class! LSG's batting looks good on paper but chokes under pressure. Pant needs to learn from Dhoni about finishing games. Still, proud of the team's fight! 💪🏏
As a neutral fan, it's nice to see Pant mature as captain. He's accepting responsibility, which is a good sign. However, LSG's bowling is just too one-dimensional. Mohsin's return is promising, but they need a quality spinner to support Chahal. Next year will be better, I'm sure.
Why is everyone forgetting that LSG's fielding was pathetic in this game? Dropped catches, missed run-outs—these small things cost matches. Pant should focus on basics first, then talk about positives. But yes, Inglis was a revelation. 👌
Great perspective from Pant. As a fan, I'm disappointed but not angry—every team has bad seasons. The way Inglis and Marsh played gave me hope. Also, Abdul Samad's cameo was explosive! Ab next season waapis aayenge, tab dekho jawab! 🔥 #LSG
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.