LSG failed to defend a formidable total of 203 runs against CSK.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were officially eliminated from the IPL 2026 playoffs after a five-wicket loss to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk on Sunday (May 10).
Invited to bat first, LSG racked up 203/8 on the board. Josh Inglis smashed 33-ball 85 to set the tone, while Shahbaz Ahmed provided late impetus with a cameo of 43* in 25 balls.
In reply, the hosts overhauled the target with four deliveries to spare. Urvil Patel stole the show with a brutal knock of 23-ball 65, while Ruturaj Gaikwad scored vital 42 runs off 28 balls. Despite a mini-collapse, Prashant Veer (18*) and Shivam Dube (15*) held their nerves to seal the chase for CSK.
Speaking after the game, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant pointed to poor fielding, specifically stating "too many catches dropped," as a major reason for the loss, admitting that standard in T20 cricket must be higher.
The visitors spilled as many as three catches. Urvil was dropped by Digvesh Rathi after scoring fifty, Prashant was dropped off successive balls by Rathi and Nicholas Pooran in the 19th over.
“Definitely. I think it was a great game. Everything was coming out nicely. We knew we were going to put enough pressure on in the power play because when you practice like that, that's the kind of cricket you look forward to. But at the same time, I feel like there was enough time. In T20 cricket, the fielding standards have to be up there. Too many catches dropped and like you said, but it's difficult to put it on just one thing. But a lot of character shown to comeback from there was really good,” Pant said in the post-match interview.
Pant was effusive in praise of Urvil’s whirlwind innings, during which he equalled Yashasvi Jaiswal’s record for the joint-fastest fifty in IPL history off just 13 balls.
“That's the only thing. Urvil played a fantastic, unbelievable knock like Inglis for us, we knew in the power play, someone has to take that charge and that's what Inglis did for us. And for CSK, it was Urvil. But at the same time, the team showed a lot of character. Definitely some areas where we can work out, but kudos to CSK. They held on to their nerves better than us,” the LSG captain stated.
Despite posting 203, Rishabh Pant felt LSG were short by a few runs given their flying start. “Definitely, given how we started, we would have liked to aim for more, but we knew close to 200, 210 would be a good target. they got off to a flier in the power play. But at the same time, we knew that it was getting difficult and after the power play, the ball was getting older and it was sort of difficult to bat on the wicket,” he remarked.
Regarding the decision to use Aiden Markram to bowl the final over with 10 runs needed, Pant mentioned it was a tough call, noting he had to trust someone who has delivered for them in the past
“That came to my mind (on using Shahbaz in the final over), but two lefties batting, it was a tough call to have. You've got to back someone who can just go over us and again, as Markram for a lot of times for us in the past years also,” he concluded.