“Our Decision Was Right! They Played Better”: Rishabh Pant Defends Bowling Decision After LSG’s Heavy Loss to MI

Despite Lucknow’s 54-run defeat against Mumbai Indians, skipper Rishabh Pant stood firm on his call to bowl first, emphasizing the need to give credit to opponents rather than questioning his team’s strategy.

April 28, 2025: Mumbai —
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant took a strong stand against critics questioning his decision to bowl first after his team was hammered by Mumbai Indians by 54 runs in an afternoon clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

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Facing intense post-match scrutiny after MI piled up 215/7 and then bundled out LSG for 161, Pant said, “It was the right decision for us. We back our batting. You have to give credit to the other team instead of questioning ourselves. Today was just not our day.”

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The hot and humid Mumbai afternoon saw LSG players visibly fatigued, while MI’s Ryan Rickelton (58 off 32) and Suryakumar Yadav (54 off 28) took full advantage of a true pitch. Jasprit Bumrah (4/22) and Trent Boult (3/20) then ran through Lucknow’s batting lineup.

This was a historic win for Mumbai Indians, becoming the first franchise to register 150 IPL victories, and also marking their maiden league-phase triumph over Lucknow Super Giants.

Also Read: IPL 2025: Virat Kohli Lauds RCB’s Adaptability After Key Win Over Delhi Capitals

Pant, who promoted himself to No. 4, once again faltered with the bat — dismissed after scoring just four runs. His struggles continued, having managed only 110 runs across 10 matches this season. However, the LSG captain brushed off concerns about his form:
“In a season like this, you can start questioning yourself, but I don’t want to do that. Every time you point fingers at an individual, it doesn’t help.”

Among the few positives for LSG was the return of young pace sensation Mayank Yadav, who clocked speeds in the 140 kmph range and picked 2/40 on his comeback after an injury layoff.
“It was good to see Mayank coming back into rhythm. Hopefully, he becomes better and better,” Pant said.

Despite two back-to-back defeats and now slipping to sixth in the table, Pant insisted that Lucknow would regroup during the upcoming break.

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IPL 2025, Rishabh Pant, Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, Mayank Yadav, Cricket News