After Lucknow Super Giants‘ (LSG) 54-run defeat at Wankhede against Mumbai Indians (MI), their playoff chances have taken a massive hit.
The Rishabh Pant-led team is currently languishing in sixth place with five wins and five losses in 10 games. The loss has also affected Lucknow’s net run rate, as it has gone down to -0.325.
It will be an uphill task for LSG. But the good thing is they will have a much-needed time to regroup. LSG will look to utilize their one-week break to come back with renewed energy to push for the final four.
How can LSG still qualify?
To cement their place in the final four, LSG will have to win all their remaining matches. The four wins will take their points tally to 18.
The Pant-led team cannot afford any slip-up, as even a solitary loss in their last four outings will hamper their chances, and then net run rate will come into focus.
Who’s that IPL player?
However, LSG’s mentor Zaheer Khan is confident that the team will bounce back in the remaining matches.
“Ten games down, five wins, five losses is where we stand, and we are also not having such a great net run rate. It’s about just playing some good cricket and making sure that we don’t rely on the net run rate. That’s something which we need to be aware of,” Zaheer told reporters after the match.
“If you’re talking about going on to win the tournament, you’ve got to play some good cricket, you’ve got to react to the situations. I’m confident that if this group reacts in that fashion, and that’s the environment which we’ve created.”
Poll
Can Lucknow Super Giants still qualify for the playoffs?
When is LSG’s next match?
LSG will next be in action against Punjab Kings on May 4 in Dharamsala.
Team mentor Zaheer Khan had made it clear that the team will go directly to Dharamsala to acclimatize and regroup for the last leg of the tournament.
“That’s something which we definitely talked about. To regroup and rejuvenate is something which will happen as we reach Dharamsala,” he said.
“A few of the guys are actually going ahead to Dharamshala because the weather is going to be nice and cool; it’s just about having that downtime.”
“We have put in enough work; all the teams pretty much have put in enough work. It’s just about finding that spark and those individuals who are going to make the difference for the franchise,” he added.
Captain Pant must step up
LSG captain Rishabh Pant has endured a disappointing run with the bat this IPL, registering six single-digit scores for 110 runs in 10 matches, with his 63 against Chennai Super Kings being the only performance of note.
On Sunday, the LSG captain Pant perished for a mere four trying to reverse sweep Mumbai Indians’ part-time spinner Will Jacks.
Pant was bought for a whopping Rs 27 crore — the most expensive purchase in IPL auction history — and it looks like the pressure of the big paycheque is affecting his performance. However, Zaheer doesn’t agree with this.
“He is a leader, and he has been fantastic as a leader; that’s something which I can vouch for,” he said.
“As a leader, he is ticking all the boxes. As a batter, the middle order is dependent on Rishabh, and I am very confident that the impact which we want from him will come. It’s just about something clicking,” Zaheer said.
