Rishabh Pant Leads LSG to Victory, Moves Sanjiv Goenka to Tears

Lucknow Super Giants produced a stunning five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, with skipper Rishabh Pant delivering a match-winning knock of 68 not out. The win came as much-needed relief for the franchise, which had been clouded by rift rumours following their opening IPL 2026 defeat to Delhi Capitals.

Bowlers Lay the Foundation

LSG’s bowlers put in a disciplined display to restrict SRH to just 159/9. Mohammed Shami was the standout performer with a miserly spell of 2 wickets for just 9 runs in four overs. He was well supported by Prince Yadav and Avesh Khan, who claimed two wickets each, while Manimaran Siddharth and Digvesh Rathi helped choke the Sunrisers’ middle order.

Pant and Markram Seal the Chase

Aiden Markram provided the early thrust with a brisk 45 off 27 balls, before Pant took charge with his characteristically calm yet assertive batting. The LSG captain paced the chase expertly, finishing the game in style with two boundaries off Jaydev Unadkat.

The most emotional moment of the evening came off the field, as LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was visibly moved to tears following the result. Goenka had been at the centre of speculation after a heated on-field exchange with Pant post the Delhi defeat — echoing the controversy that preceded KL Rahul’s exit from the franchise in 2024. Sunday’s victory, however, appeared to have eased tensions significantly, with the win uniting the camp ahead of a long IPL season.