Rishabh Pant apologised in LSG's last game vs Punjab Kings (Img: Internet)
Lucknow: Rishabh Pant apologised to fans of Lucknow Super Giants after the team’s disappointing IPL 2026 campaign, saying the season had been difficult both for the squad and personally.
Pant made the remarks during the toss ahead of Lucknow’s final league-stage match against Punjab Kings at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Lucknow Super Giants entered the match already eliminated from playoff contention, with the team managing only four wins from 13 matches this season.
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Speaking at the toss, Pant acknowledged the struggles faced by the franchise throughout the tournament and apologised to supporters who had travelled from different parts of Uttar Pradesh to back the side.
“It’s been a tough season, but there has been a lot of learning for the team and personally as well,” Pant said before adding that the team would continue to give its full effort in the final game.
Pant said Lucknow would have preferred to bowl first on what he described as a strong batting surface. He also predicted a high-scoring encounter at the Ekana Stadium.
The LSG captain confirmed two changes in the playing XI, with Arjun Tendulkar and Arshin Kulkarni coming into the side.
Despite entering the season with a star-studded squad, Lucknow failed to find consistency and became the first team to be eliminated from the playoff race this year.
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The 2026 campaign marked the third consecutive season in which Lucknow Super Giants failed to qualify for the IPL playoffs. The franchise had also finished seventh in IPL 2024 and IPL 2025.
Meanwhile, Punjab Kings remained in contention for a playoff place heading into the match. Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer opted to bowl first after winning the toss and described the match as an important opportunity for his side.
Punjab made two changes to its lineup, bringing in Marco Jansen and Vijaykumar Vyshak as the team continued its push for a place in the IPL 2026 playoffs.
