As he led the Lucknow Super Giants to a nerve-wracking five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2026 encounter in Hyderabad on Sunday, Rishabh Pant once again demonstrated his preference to keep the noise at bay and let his performances speak.
In response to criticism regarding his T20 batting strategy, Pant claimed that praise from teammates is far more important than rumors from the outside world.
“I know I’m preparing well. I want to let my bat do the talking. My colleagues and management see how hard I work, that’s what matters. I just don’t want to talk about that,” PTI quoted Pant as saying at the post-match presentation ceremony.
As LSG chased down a target of 157 with a ball to spare, Pant anchored the chase with a calm 68 not out off 50 balls that was laced with nine fours, completing a tense end at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Regarding his own performance, Pant insisted that he has consistently prepared and that he is still dedicated to making a full contribution.
“You know, when it ends well, all is well. You know, we always say that, but at the same time, you know, my focus personally, I’ve been preparing really well and giving my full commitment.”
In light of the victory, Pant stated that the team’s confidence is much boosted by winning games under pressure.
“Definitely, it’s a big plus. You know, when you get this at the last and finish the game, definitely a good plus for us,” he said.
He emphasized that the bowling unit’s disciplined efforts up front set the stage for the triumph.
“I think with bowlers, you know, you’ve got to appreciate and give them one because, you know, those are the people who set you up for the night, especially when you bowl first.”
Several bowlers stepped up and performed their duties well under pressure, according to Pant.
“I think (Mohammed) Shami Bhai, Avesh (Khan), (Digvesh) Rathi, I think everyone’s contributed really well, especially (Manimaran) Siddharth coming in today. You know, we decided as a ground that he’s going to make up the play and he did really well for us.”
Regarding team conversations and leadership style, Pant emphasized the importance of striking a balance between group appreciation and criticism.
“We feel like, you know, only thing is there is never a perfect match. You know, you’ve got to be critical as a management, but at the same time, you’ve got to appreciate what’s happening inside.”
He emphasized that execution clarity is more important than individual heroics.
“I think the only conversation is, you know, looking to, you know, execute the plan rather than feeling that I can do all this. Trust your preparation and just take on the game.”
According to Pant, learning is still a continuous process for the side as it strives to get better with every excursion.
“You know, when you slack so well, like I said before, you’ve got to be critical, but at the same time, we are looking to learn as a team and get better every single match.”
