Synopsis
Rishabh Pant, captain of Lucknow Super Giants, discussed his decision to bat lower in the order to allow Abdul Samad to leverage the strong start against Delhi Capitals. He also reflected on his recent struggles in IPL 2025, noting the impact of the toss and pitch conditions on the game.Key Takeaways
- Rishabh Pant moved down the order to allow Abdul Samad to exploit a good wicket.
- Pant has struggled with form, scoring only 106 runs across nine matches.
- Samad's entry did not yield results, leading to a catch and bowled.
- Pant acknowledged the toss's influence on the game at the Ekana Stadium.
- The team is focused on improving their batting combination moving forward.
Lucknow, April 22 (NationPress) Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant explained his decision to bat lower in the order, allowing Abdul Samad to take advantage of the strong start set by the top order. With his current form struggling in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Pant aimed to prevent any slowdown for his team. He has only managed 106 runs over nine matches with a strike rate of 96.36 in this tournament.
Typically batting at number four, Pant did not step onto the field until the final over against Delhi Capitals, entering at number six. Unfortunately for the home crowd, he faced just two deliveries before being dismissed for a duck on the last ball of the first innings.
Samad entered the game in the 12th over when Lucknow was comfortably positioned at 99/2. However, the strategy backfired as he was caught and bowled by Kumar.
“The plan was to take advantage of the wicket. We sent Samad in to maximize the opportunity. After him, Miller came in, but we really got stuck on the wicket. These are the types of challenges we need to address to find our strongest lineup moving forward,” Pant shared during the post-match discussion.
With new players like David Miller and Ayush Badoni at the crease, DC increased the pressure and restricted runs, with only four boundaries scored between overs 14 and 19, finishing with 159/6 in their allotted 20 overs.
Pant acknowledged that his team fell short of a defendable score and emphasized the significant influence of the toss at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium.
“We realized we were 20 runs short. In Lucknow, the toss is crucial. The team bowling first benefits greatly from the pitch. We had to remain patient, but it just didn't happen. Typically, in Lucknow, the pitch improves in the second innings, allowing batters to perform better; that's how the game unfolds, and we can't complain. Yes, the toss is vital here, but as a team, we refuse to make excuses,” he concluded.
