Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper Rishabh Pant is looking to spend time in the middle and let the runs follow as he aims to overcome his lean patch with the bat.
The southpaw, signed for a whopping sum of INR 27 crore, has aggregated just 40 runs across six matches this IPL season.
However, in Saturday’s six-wicket win over Gujarat Titans at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Pant showed encouraging signs, scoring 21 off 18 balls with four boundaries. Promoted to open the innings in Mitchell Marsh’s absence, the left-hander looked fluent before falling to Prasidh Krishna.
"I think every match I am feeling much better," Pant said at the post-match presentation. "Today, Marsh not being there gave me an opportunity, and I thought the more time I spend at the wicket, it would help me going forward in the tournament."
Nicholas Pooran starred with the bat, smashing 61 off 34 balls to help LSG chase down the target of 181 with three deliveries to spare.
Lauding Pooran, Pant said: "We are happy to have Nicholas Pooran in our team. The way he is reading the game and batting is phenomenal."
The captain also praised his bowlers for pulling things back after GT openers put up a solid 120-run stand in just 12 overs.
"The way we pulled it back was amazing… the idea was to bowl yorkers and slower ones into the wicket, and the execution was spot on."
This victory lifted LSG to third place on the points table with four victories in six games. Their next match is scheduled against Chennai Super Kings at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Monday (April 14).
