[[{“value”:”
Teams make plans, but fate ultimately determines the outcome. This adage perfectly fits the Lucknow Super Giants think-tank’s decision to promote skipper Rishabh Pant as an opener, a role he has seldom performed. But even before that could be tested in the IPL match against Delhi Capitals here on
Wednesday, fate intervened. Pant was run-out at the non-striker’s end.
That was the last thing the team wanted, and jolted by the blow, the famed batting line-up never flourished and the home side managed just 141. That was never going to be defendable, despite LSG’s pacers making an early fight of it.
Pant had opened only once last season, when Mitch Marsh was unavailable, scoring 21 off 18 against Gujarat Titans, and on Wednesday, he managed seven off nine balls.
Thus, after the six-wicket defeat, there were questions galore for the team management, including owner Sanjiv Goenka, who was seen having a now-customary animated discussion with Pant and head coach Justin Langer after the match. The moot questions for the Lucknow team management are:
(i) Was it worth breaking the Aiden Markram-Marsh opening pair that worked so well last season.
(ii) Was it worth dropping Nicholas Pooran way down the order?
Talking to the official broadcasters, Pant justified the move: “The idea was very simple. Pooran is taking charge in the middle overs. He’s not batting in the top order anymore because I’m batting up.”
When asked if the team management would rethink his role as an opener, he said, “It’s a 50-50 call. But [you’ll] definitely see me in the top three.”
Pant also admitted that a batting collapse forced their hand into bringing in all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed as the Impact Player in the first innings itself, which meant they were unable to utilise promising leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi.
In the final analysis, LSG did feel the absence of Rathi, as Shahbaz and Markram conceded 29 runs in two overs that swung the momentum DC’s way, with UP boy Sameer Rizvi playing a fine, match-winning innings of 70 not out.
Six
No. of times Rishabh Pant has opened the batting in the IPL; he has scored 132 runs @ 22.00
Five
No of consecutive wins for DC vs LSG
286
Total number of runs scored in Lucknow on Wednesday — the lowest match aggregate involving LSG and DC
“}]]
