IPL 2025 DC vs LSG, Rishabh Pant Statement after Match: In the 40th match of IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 8 wickets. Despite a fast start, Lucknow lost the pace of scoring runs in the last overs and could score only 159 runs, in response to which Delhi won the match by scoring 161 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 17.5 overs. In this match, questions were raised on captain Rishabh Pant's late batting and Mayank Yadav's absence, to which he answered after the match.

IPL 2025 DC vs LSG, Rishabh Pant Statement after Match: In the 40th match of IPL 2025, Delhi Capitals scored an easy win by scoring 161 runs for two wickets with 13 balls to spare in reply to Lucknow's 159 for six. Lucknow's batting was a big topic of discussion in this match. At one point, his team had scored 105 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 12 overs, but in the end could only score 159 runs in 20 overs. The biggest reason for this was also considered to be Rishabh Pant not coming up in the batting order. Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant explained the reason for sending himself down the batting order after a crushing eight-wicket defeat against Delhi Capitals at his home ground on Tuesday night and also talked about the continued absence of fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who did not become a part of the playing XI despite being in the 'Impact Subs' list. Delhi Capitals vs Lucknow Super Giants.

Delhi Capitals captain Akshar Patel won the toss and decided to bowl first, after which Lucknow made an aggressive start. There was an explosive 87-run opening partnership between Aiden Markram (52) and Mitchell Marsh (45). After Markram was dismissed in the 10th over and the in-form Nicholas Pooran (9) flopped, it was being speculated that now Rishabh Pant would come to the crease and rain fours and sixes.

Pant played only two balls

But Abdul Samad came to bat in his place, then David Miller and Ayush Badoni. Pant finally came to bat on the last two balls of the first innings and once again failed with the bat. On the first ball, he tried to play a powerful shot but missed the ball. On the second and last ball, he changed his stance and tried to hit a boundary, but the ball hit his pad and went to the stumps and he was out on a duck in two balls. Lucknow's innings collapsed to 159/6, which at one time was in a position to go up to 180-190.

There was a lot of speculation about the reason for Pant coming to bat late, especially the heavy bandages seen on his hand during the toss. But after the match, Pant clarified that this decision was taken as a part of strategy. He said, "The thought was to take advantage. We sent Samad so that runs could be scored quickly on this pitch. After that Miller came and we got stuck on the pitch. In the end, these are the things that we have to understand and find our best combination moving forward."

Despite a quick start, Lucknow's innings slowed down in the middle overs and they lost the lead. While they could have reached 180-190 runs, they were stopped at just 159. Pant said, "We knew that we were 20 runs behind. Toss plays a big role in Lucknow. Whichever team bowls first gets a lot of help from the wicket. We just had to stay put but we could not score runs."

Toss is a big factor- Rishabh Pant

Although Pant said that the team is "not looking for excuses", he admitted that the toss is playing a big role in deciding the direction of the game. Out of the 6 matches played in Lucknow so far in IPL 2025, the team winning the toss has won 5 times. He said, "Yes, the toss is a big factor here, but as a team we are not looking at it as an excuse. This always happens in Lucknow, the wicket gets better in the second innings, batting becomes easier. This is the game and you cannot complain about it."

Why was Mayank Yadav not included in the team?

Even after half of the season has passed, Lucknow is still waiting for the fast bowler Mayank Yadav, who was discovered last year. Talking about the possibilities of including Mayank in the team, Pant said that they are still looking for a way to fit him in the team. He said, "We are bringing Ayush as an impact so that Mayank gets some game time. We are just trying to get him a chance at the beginning of the season because half the season has passed. He has just returned from NCA, now we are looking at how to fit him in the team."

This was Lucknow's fourth defeat of the season. After the match, Pant gave a clear message to his team, "I haven't thought about anything yet, the match is over. We will come together again, make a strategy and start afresh. We will take the next match as a new beginning."