May 5, 2025: Following Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) 37-run defeat to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 54 of IPL 2025, skipper Rishabh Pant pointed to a top-order failure and dropped catches as key reasons behind the loss. The match, held at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala on Sunday, saw LSG struggle to chase down a steep target, despite a fighting half-century by Ayush Badoni and his 81-run partnership with Abdul Samad.
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Pant expressed disappointment over the missed chances in the field and the inability of the top order to fire.
“Definitely too many runs. When you’re gonna drop crucial catches at the wrong time, it is going to hurt you badly,” he said.
Pant acknowledged that the team misjudged the conditions early on, saying,
“We didn’t pick the length right at the start… It’s part and parcel of the game.”
LSG is now placed seventh on the points table with 10 points from 11 games (5 wins, 6 losses). Meanwhile, PBKS climbed to second place with 15 points from 11 matches (7 wins, 3 losses, 1 no result).
Despite the setback, Pant remains hopeful about LSG’s playoff chances:
“The dream is still alive. If we’re gonna win the next three matches, we definitely can turn it around.”
He also emphasized the importance of the middle and lower order stepping up, especially when the top order fails to deliver:
“We need to take the game deep. Every time, they can’t do the heavy job for us.”
With only a few matches left in the league stage, LSG faces a must-win scenario to keep their playoff hopes alive.
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