Rishabh Pant Blames Batting As LSG Lose To Rajasthan Royals By 40 Runs

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant said his side’s batting unit must take responsibility after a 40-run defeat to the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League 2026 clash in Lucknow on Wednesday.

Chasing 160, LSG were dismissed for 119 in 18 overs despite a half-century from Mitchell Marsh. The innings lost direction early after Pant was out for a duck, leading to another disappointing finish and a fourth consecutive loss.

After the match, Pant admitted the problem lies with the batters.

“It’s definitely our batting is letting us down,” he said, adding, “You have to look for answers inside, not outside.”

Pant also accepted that the batting group could have handled the chase better.

“We could have taken it a little deeper,” Pant said, while noting that the bowlers had done ‘a fantastic job’ in restricting the opposition.

Lucknow Super Giants’s bowlers had earlier delivered disciplined spells to keep Rajasthan Royals to a manageable total. The batting collapse meant the effort went unrewarded.

Despite the poor run, Pant backed his team to recover.

“We have to keep our heads high,” he said, expressing belief that the side can still turn things around.

For the Rajasthan Royals, captain Riyan Parag credited his bowlers for the turnaround.

“The bowlers, no, it’s because of the wickets that we won,” he said, even while admitting the total was below par.

Parag highlighted the team’s ability to adjust to conditions as a key factor.

“We will be a team that assesses and adapts,” he said, pointing to improved performances in recent matches.

Rajasthan Royals captain also praised his pace attack for their execution early in the innings.

“It’s just commendable,” Parag said, referring to their control during the power-play overs.

Speaking about his own form, Parag remained confident.

“Innings are not too far away,” he said, adding that his focus remains on fulfilling the team’s requirements.

The result strengthens Rajasthan Royals’ position in the standings, while LSG will need a quick turnaround to stay competitive in the tournament.

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