Rishabh Pant vows to give 200% after Lucknow Super Giants' dismal IPL campaign

Key facts

• Lucknow Super Giants have won only 2 of their 8 matches in IPL 2026.
• LSG are at the bottom of the points table with 4 points.
• Rishabh Pant mentioned owner Sanjiv Goenka during the toss against Mumbai Indians on Monday.
• Pant said: 'We're gonna give our 200%, try to bring that happiness back and hopefully do it for our owner.'
• LSG made three changes: Josh Inglis debuted, Mukul Choudhary made way for debutant Akshat Raghuvanshi.
• Mumbai Indians captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and elected to bowl first at Wankhede Stadium.
• Rohit Sharma returned as an impact player for Mumbai Indians after missing five games.
• LSG have qualified for playoffs in 2022 and 2023 but finished seventh in 2024 and 2025.

A season of underachievement

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant did not mince words after his team's latest defeat, acknowledging that the franchise has fallen far short of expectations. Speaking at the toss ahead of Monday's match against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, Pant admitted the team's poor performance had deeply affected owner Sanjiv Goenka. "It's been a tough season for us, and there is no running away from that, but one person for us who has had the most difficult time is our owner, Mr Goenka," Pant said. "Everyone knows how passionate he is about cricket and about his team." LSG have managed just two wins from eight matches, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the IPL 2026 points table with four points. Their chances of reaching the playoffs are now slim, requiring a near-perfect run in the remaining games and favorable results elsewhere.

Pant's public pledge to owner and fans

In an unusually candid toss interview, Pant promised a complete turnaround in the team's attitude. "We're gonna give our 200%, try to bring that happiness back and hopefully we can do it for our owner and the fans for sure," he said. The captain revealed that a one-week break had allowed the squad to reflect deeply on their failings. "It definitely [did], a lot of reflection, what we can do and what we can do as a team and as an individual," Pant explained. Goenka, who had praised Pant after buying him for a record price at the auction, had predicted the wicketkeeper-batter would win five or six titles for the franchise. That vision now appears distant as LSG struggle to replicate their earlier playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023.

Batting woes undermine strong bowling unit

Despite possessing a formidable bowling attack, LSG's batting has been their Achilles' heel this season. The top order, featuring Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, has failed to provide the explosive starts that characterized their previous campaigns. Nicholas Pooran, a key middle-order batsman, has been out of form, and Pant himself has managed only one notable innings — against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a low-scoring contest. "With the kind of superstars they have in the side, it is quite unbelievable that they are seated at the bottom of the table," observers noted. The batting unit's collective slump has put immense pressure on the bowlers, who have largely performed well. Mohammed Shami and Prince Yadav have been effective in the powerplay, while young prospects Mohsin Khan and Mayank Yadav have made encouraging returns from injury. Mukul Choudhury, though dropped for this match, had shown promise as a lower-order asset.

Changes for the Mumbai Indians clash

For the match against Mumbai Indians, Pant announced three changes to the LSG lineup. Josh Inglis made his debut for the franchise, replacing Mukul Choudhary, while Akshat Raghuvanshi also debuted. The full XI included Mitchell Marsh, Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant (captain and wicketkeeper), Akshat Raghuvanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, and Prince Yadav. Mumbai Indians, led by Suryakumar Yadav in place of the injured Hardik Pandya (back spasm), won the toss and elected to bowl. They brought in Corbin Bosch for Trent Boult, while Rohit Sharma returned as an impact player after missing five games. Their lineup featured Ryan Rickelton, Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Will Jacks, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, and Raghu Sharma.

A franchise in decline

LSG's current predicament marks a sharp decline from their early success. After reaching the playoffs in their first two seasons (2022 and 2023), the team finished seventh in both 2024 and 2025. This season, they have won only two of eight matches, a record that places them last in the ten-team league. The franchise's struggles have been compounded by high expectations. Goenka, one of the most passionate owners in the IPL, has invested heavily in star players, yet the results have not followed. Pant's admission that the team has "let down" both the owner and the fans underscores the gravity of the situation.

Redemption still possible, but odds are steep

Mathematically, LSG can still qualify for the playoffs, but they must win all their remaining matches and rely on other results. The team's batting unit will need to fire collectively, as the bowlers have already shown they can compete at the highest level. Pant remains defiant, promising a renewed effort. "The only promise is from this break is, we're gonna give our 200%, try to bring that happiness back," he reiterated. Whether that translates into wins on the field will determine not only LSG's season but also the captain's legacy. For now, the focus is on restoring pride and delivering for a frustrated owner and fanbase. The road ahead is daunting, but Pant insists the team is ready to fight.

The bottom line

• LSG have won only 2 of 8 matches in IPL 2026, sitting last in the points table.
• Captain Rishabh Pant publicly apologized to owner Sanjiv Goenka and fans, vowing a 200% effort.
• Batting failures have been the primary cause of the team's poor performance, despite a strong bowling unit.
• LSG made three changes for the match against Mumbai Indians, including debuts for Josh Inglis and Akshat Raghuvanshi.
• The franchise has declined after playoff appearances in 2022 and 2023, finishing seventh in the last two seasons.
• Mathematical playoff hopes remain, but LSG must win all remaining games and depend on other results.