IPL2026 : Pant’s Composed Masterclass Completes Shami’s Fiery Spell as Lucknow Seal Clinical Win over SRH
After Mohammed Shami set the tone with a fiery and disciplined spell, it was skipper Rishabh Pant who calmly finished the job with the bat, guiding Lucknow Super Giants to their first victory of the ongoing Indian Premier League season.
Having suffered a setback in their previous outing against Delhi Capitals, Lucknow bounced back in style, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad on their home turf.
Batting first, Hyderabad were bundled out for a modest 156, largely due to Shami’s exceptional control and precision. The seasoned pacer conceded just 9 runs in his four overs while picking up two crucial wickets, laying a rock-solid foundation for Lucknow. His clever variations in pace deceived the opposition batters, triggering an early collapse.
Hyderabad’s innings got off to a disastrous start when Abhishek Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the very first over. Soon after, Travis Head also fell cheaply, leaving the hosts reeling. The pressure intensified as Ishan Kishan and Liam Livingstone failed to make an impact, reducing Hyderabad to a precarious 26 for 4.
The innings was revived by a spirited counterattack from Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who stitched together a brilliant 116-run partnership. Both batters displayed aggressive stroke play, scoring fluent half-centuries and threatening to take the game away. However, their dismissals—Klaasen’s featuring a spectacular one-handed catch by Pant—halted the momentum, and Hyderabad eventually fell short of a bigger total.
In reply, Lucknow began confidently, with Aiden Markram looking particularly aggressive. However, regular wickets kept the chase under pressure. Pant, initially cautious, anchored the innings with maturity and composure, showcasing a significant evolution in his approach.
Despite struggling against spin early on, Pant held his nerve, rotating strike intelligently and waiting for the right moments to attack. His unbeaten 68 off 50 balls was a blend of patience and calculated aggression. Supported briefly by Abdul Samad, Pant ensured Lucknow stayed on course.
With 9 runs needed in the final over, Pant displayed nerves of steel, smashing two boundaries off Jaydev Unadkat to seal the contest with a ball to spare. His match-winning knock epitomized leadership under pressure and highlighted his growing maturity as a captain.
This well-rounded performance will undoubtedly boost Lucknow’s confidence moving forward, while Pant’s captain’s knock and Shami’s incisive spell stood out as the defining moments of the match.

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