Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant admitted that his team needs to take collective responsibility following their dramatic Super Over loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2026, urging players to focus on internal solutions and handle pressure better.

The match ended in a tie after LSG, chasing 156, finished at 155 thanks to Mohammed Shami’s last-ball six. However, the Super Over saw LSG collapse under pressure, managing just one run while losing two wickets, allowing KKR to seal the win instantly through Rinku Singh.

ALSO READ

Reflecting on the defeat, Pant emphasised the need for accountability across the squad and highlighted the importance of regrouping after a short break.

“I think we definitely need a break. I think we’re gonna refresh. There is always pressure, and it’s gonna be a pressure game always, but at the same time, we have to look for answers inside, not outside. And just keep it simple. We need to take accountability – every guy. Like, it can’t be about one or two guys. It has to be about the whole unit, and a lot of people will take accountability for that for sure,” Pant said.

Pant also defended the decision to send Nicholas Pooran out to bat in the Super Over despite his struggles this season. Pooran has had a difficult IPL 2026 campaign so far, with his highest score being just 22 in seven matches. However, Pant said the team chose to back him based on trust in high-pressure situations.

“We discussed as a group, we had a discussion, and the name that came up was Nicholas Pooran. He might not go through the best form of his life, but at the same time, you will trust your player in a hard situation like this,” he added.

The LSG skipper acknowledged that there were few positives to take from the match but remained hopeful of a turnaround after the break.

“No excuses there. Just looking at the positive, there might not be enough positive right now, but I think after the break, there will be a lot of enough positive for sure,” he said.

Earlier in the match, Kolkata Knight Riders posted 155/7 after recovering from a collapse at 93/7, with Rinku Singh playing a match-defining unbeaten knock of 83 off 51 balls. Mohsin Khan had starred with the ball for LSG, claiming five wickets for 23 runs.

In reply, LSG struggled early as Mitchell Marsh was dismissed cheaply. Rishabh Pant (42) and Aiden Markram (31) attempted to stabilise the innings, but their cautious approach increased the required run rate.

Late contributions from Ayush Badoni (24) and Himmat Singh (19) kept LSG in the contest, before Shami’s last-ball six forced the match into a Super Over.

However, Sunil Narine struck twice in the Super Over to restrict LSG to just one run, and KKR completed the chase on the very first ball to secure a thrilling victory.

Following the result, KKR moved to eighth place with five points from eight matches, while Lucknow Super Giants slipped to the bottom of the IPL 2026 standings.

Get every cricket update! Follow us on