Rishabh Pant answered his critics in style, leading Lucknow Super Giants to a thrilling five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL on Sunday at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Rishabh Pant played a calm yet crucial innings, remaining unbeaten on 68 runs off 50 balls, including nine fours. His effort helped LSG successfully chase down a target of 157 runs with one ball to spare, sealing a much-needed victory for his team.
Coming into the match, Rishabh Pant was under heavy pressure. Since taking over LSG’s captaincy last year, he had struggled for runs and in 2026, criticism had started to question not just his batting but also his leadership. However, Pant made it clear that outside opinions don’t affect him much.
After the match, he said that he prefers to let his bat do the talking. He emphasised that the recognition from his teammates and team management matters more than external criticism. According to him, he has been preparing well and staying committed, regardless of results.
Talking about his form, Rishabh Pant said that consistency in preparation is key. He admitted that things feel better when the result goes in your favor but his focus has always been on giving his best.
Rishabh Pant also called this win important for the team’s confidence, especially because of the close finish. He praised the bowlers for setting up the victory by restricting SRH to a manageable score. The LSG skipper specifically mentioned Mohammed Shami, Avesh Khan and Manimaran Siddharth for executing their plans well under pressure.
He added that a team must balance criticism with appreciation, as no match is ever perfect. Rishabh Pant concluded by saying the team is focused on executing plans, trusting preparation and improving with every game.
