Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) experienced contrasting emotions exactly one year apart. In 2024, they lost at home to Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), which led to a tense exchange between owner Sanjiv Goenka and then-captain KL Rahul. However, on Thursday, the atmosphere was completely different. Goenka smiled and hugged current captain Rishabh Pant as LSG secured a five-wicket win over SRH in IPL 2025.
Pant’s Bold Decision Pays Off
At first, Pant’s decision to bowl on a batting-friendly pitch raised concerns. SRH had recently smashed 286 runs while batting first in their previous match. Nevertheless, LSG’s bowlers proved him right. Shardul Thakur led the attack brilliantly, taking four wickets and restricting SRH to just 190 for nine in 20 overs.
Pooran and Marsh Dominate the Chase
Soon after, LSG batters took charge. Nicholas Pooran and Mitchell Marsh played aggressively and dominated the SRH bowlers. Both scored their second consecutive half-centuries. As a result, LSG comfortably chased down the target with 23 balls to spare.
Goenka’s Reaction Brings Relief
Following the victory, Goenka couldn’t hide his happiness. He hugged Pant tightly, while team mentor Zaheer Khan smiled in approval. This moment stood in stark contrast to Goenka’s serious conversation with Pant after LSG’s heartbreaking loss to Delhi Capitals. At that time, many fans had feared another KL Rahul-like situation.
Rahul’s Exit from LSG
Notably, Rahul’s relationship with Goenka had turned sour after their much-discussed altercation in 2024. Eventually, Rahul parted ways with LSG before the IPL 2025 auction. Consequently, Delhi Capitals signed him for INR 14 crore.
Pant Feels Relieved After First Win
Pant admitted that this victory gave him a huge sense of relief. Additionally, he praised Shardul Thakur and debutant Prince Yadav for their impressive performances.
“Big relief but as a team we talk about the process. It’s not about getting too high when you win and not about getting too low when you lose. As a team, we can’t focus on uncontrollables, my mentor said focus on controllables and that is what I did. Good to see the way Prince bowled and also Thakur was really good,” Pant said.
