LSG will now face RCB on May 27, while GT will face CSK on May 25 in their last league games.
In the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL 2025), the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) defeated the Gujarat Titans (GT) on Thursday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, and captain Rishabh Pant expressed satisfaction with the team's performance.
GT batted first after losing the toss and posted a massive 235/5 with Mitchell Marsh scoring 117 and Nicholas Pooran thumping 56* in no time. In reply, GT could only muster 202/9 in 20 overs with Shahrukh Khan making 57 runs.
Pant emphasized that even though they didn't make it to the IPL playoffs, they could still play good cricket. In addition to addressing fielding errors and praising the batting unit's contributions, especially Shahrukh's performance, he emphasized the value of learning and progress.
“Definitely happy. We have shown as a team that we can play good cricket. There was a time in the tournament when we had the chance to qualify. But that's part and parcel of the game. We need to learn and get better. Always a question of getting the top three, but the way Shahrukh batted it definitely gives hope down the order as well. Injury concerns were coming into the tournament. The way Mitch, Markram, and Pooran batted, and the whole batting unit in fact. Fielding, we made lapses. Learn from it and move forward," Rishabh Pant said in the post-match presentation.
Pant made 16 runs in just 6 balls, as he smashed Rabada for two sixes. Before this match, in 12 appearances, Pant labored to muster up 135 runs at a scrappy average of 12.27 while barely managing to maintain a strike rate of 100.
On the other hand, GT skipper Shubman Gill stated that his team conceded extra runs after their 33-run loss to LSG in Ahmedabad.
“We gave 15-20 extra. If we'd stopped them (LSG) at 210-220, it would've been better, that was a huge difference,” Gill told broadcasters.
When asked if choosing to bowl first was a strategic decision to test playoff preparedness, Gill dismissed the notion.
“No, honestly. We bowled well in the powerplay. Yes, we didn't get wickets. But they (LSG) scored 180 in the next 14 overs, which was a lot. We were right in the game till the 17th over. Shahrukh and Rutherford batted well. Getting the momentum back will be key in the next game.”
GT will next face CSK in their final league match on May 25, in Ahmedabad, before prepping for the playoffs.
(PTI inputs)