Kamal Ghorui
Lucknow Super Giants won the last-ball thriller against Kolkata Knight Riders on Thursday, debutant Mukul Choudhary pulled the chase single-handedly. Despite LSG’s win, former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has criticised Rishabh Pant, stating that the skipper must improve his game awareness and take greater responsibility. Pant endured another underwhelming outing, scoring just 10 runs, as LSG’s top order struggled. However, the team managed to pull off a thrilling three-wicket victory in Kolkata. Pant’s form has been inconsistent this season, with two low scores surrounding a solitary half-century in his first three matches.
Speaking on Star Sports, Kaif highlighted the lack of consistency and stressed that an experienced player like Pant should take charge of the chase and bat till the end.”…the team needed him to stay till the end,” Kaif said. “He is an experienced player and has been playing in the IPL since 2016. The situation when he came in wasn’t very difficult, LSG had already scored 41 in the first five overs. One batter needed to take responsibility and guide the chase, and that role was meant for Pant.”Kaif further emphasised the importance of leadership, stating that a captain must lead from the front.“As captain, if you don’t take responsibility, you cannot help your team win games. Yes, he did well against SRH, but he needs consistency. One good innings followed by failures isn’t enough. He must read the match situation better and understand when to accelerate.”He also advised Pant to focus on building his innings and spending more time at the crease.“A captain’s role in a chase is to stay till the end, and that is something Pant needs to work on,” Kaif added.Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a thrilling last-ball victory against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, chasing down 182 in dramatic fashion. Batting first, KKR posted a competitive 181/4, with useful contributions across the order. However, they couldn’t fully capitalise despite a solid platform.In reply, LSG found themselves under pressure midway through the chase, but a stunning lower-order fightback turned the game around. Ayush Badoni anchored the innings with a composed half-century, while debutant Mukul Choudhary stole the show with a fearless 54 off 27 balls.The match went down to the final ball, where Choudhary held his nerve to seal a memorable win for LSG. His knock not only completed the chase but also announced his arrival on the big stage.
