Despite Rishabh Pant’s gritty fifty, Lucknow Super Giants fell short against Chennai Super Kings. Read Pant’s honest post-match take, key match stats, and how MS Dhoni’s late fireworks sealed the win for CSK.
Pant Reflects on LSG’s Loss to CSK “We Kept Losing Wickets” as Dhoni’s Late Blitz Clinches Victory for Chennai
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The high-octane clash between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium delivered an edge-of-the-seat thriller. However, despite a resilient knock from Rishabh Pant, it was MS Dhoni’s late-innings fireworks that led CSK to a decisive win. Post-match, Pant candidly addressed LSG’s shortcomings, identifying frequent wickets and lack of partnerships as key reasons behind their defeat.
📉 LSG’s Batting Falters Despite Pant’s Return to Form
Batting first, Lucknow Super Giants posted 166/7 in their 20 overs—a total that many felt was below par given the conditions. Rishabh Pant, who has had a turbulent season with the bat, finally showed glimpses of his old self with a slow but steady 51 off 42 balls—his first half-century of the season and the second slowest fifty of his IPL career.
The innings also saw a brief but solid partnership with Mitchell Marsh (30 runs), but LSG struggled to capitalize on the platform. Wickets fell at regular intervals, with the team unable to stitch together any meaningful partnerships in the latter half of the innings.
“We were 10-15 runs short,” Pant said during the post-match presentation. “We kept losing wickets whenever momentum was building. The wicket was stopping a bit, but we could have pushed for 10 more runs.”
📊 Quick Stats:
- LSG Total: 166/7 (20 overs)
- Top Scorers: Rishabh Pant – 51 (42), Mitchell Marsh – 30 (23)
- Fall of Wickets: 5 wickets fell between overs 10–18, breaking the rhythm
- CSK Chase: 169/5 in 19.3 overs
💬 Rishabh Pant’s Leadership in Focus
Pant’s decision-making was put to the test throughout the match. One point of debate was his choice not to bowl spinner Ravi Bishnoi earlier in the innings.
“There was a lot of time I thought about bowling Bishnoi,” Pant noted. “But I discussed with the other players and decided to take it deeper.”
The statement highlights a collaborative decision-making approach, but one that ultimately failed to contain CSK’s charge during the death overs.
🧨 MS Dhoni: The Finisher Returns
Just when it looked like the match might go down to the wire, MS Dhoni stepped up with a signature finish. Scoring 26 not out off just 11 balls, Dhoni smashed three boundaries and two sixes, effectively sealing the win with just three balls to spare.
Dhoni’s calculated aggression reminded fans and critics alike of his unmatched finishing ability, making him a decisive factor yet again.
“Vintage Dhoni,” remarked commentators during the broadcast, as the crowd erupted in Lucknow.
🧠 Tactical Lessons for LSG
Despite the loss, there were several learning points for Lucknow:
- A lack of middle-order stability remains a concern.
- Over-reliance on individual brilliance is not translating into team success.
- Bowling strategies in the death overs require revision, especially against finishers like Dhoni.
📈 IPL 2025 Implications
With the playoff race heating up, this loss could dent LSG’s confidence and playoff positioning. The team currently hovers around the middle of the table and needs consistent performances in upcoming matches to stay in contention.
For CSK, this victory reinforces their reputation as a team that thrives under pressure, with experienced campaigners like Dhoni making the difference.
(Note: Live IPL table and match schedule can be found on IPL’s official website)
While Rishabh Pant’s half-century marked a welcome return to form, Lucknow Super Giants’ inconsistency with the bat and lack of killer instinct in bowling handed the victory to Chennai. As CSK celebrated another classic Dhoni finish, Pant and his squad must regroup quickly and address their tactical missteps if they aim to stay in the race for the IPL 2025 playoffs.
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