Aimless Rishabh Pant had no clear-cut plans for LSG during MI loss: Shaun Pollock
Shaun Pollock questioned Rishabh Pant's handling of Lucknow Super Giants' bowlers after the loss to Mumbai Indians. The criticism sharpened focus on LSG's fading playoff hopes and Pant's difficult season.
Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock slammed the captaincy of Rishabh Pant during LSG's latest loss to Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2026. Lucknow suffered their seventh match this season, meaning that their playoff hopes are all but over.
MI vs LSG: Highlights | Scorecard
This was Lucknow's 15th loss under the captaincy of Pant, and he continues to underperform with the bat as well. So far in nine matches, Pant has scored 204 runs at an average of 25.5 and a strike-rate of 128.3.
However, it was the LSG skipper's strategy that caught the attention of Pollock, especially when it came to the use of bowlers. Speaking to Cricbuzz, the former all-rounder question why Pant didn't use Aiden Markram and used only five bowlers.
He also asked why Avesh Khan was asked to continue bowling yorkers when it was ineffective at the Wankhede and he ended up conceding 56 runs in 3.4 overs.
"They also used only five bowlers and didn't go to the extra option of Aiden Markram. Someone like Avesh Khan, his strength has always been pounding the good length."
"Here, he was running up and trying to bowl yorkers. And they were knee high, getting smacked away. Bowlers have to realise what their strength is and stick to it. By bringing in Inglis, they missed out on an international bowler, which probably would have served the balance better," said Pollock.
'NO CLEAR-CUT PLANS'
Having set a target of 229 runs, LSG quickly lost control in the first 10 overs as Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickleton decimated the bowlers with a 143-run stand off 65 balls. Pollock said that Pant didn't seem to have any clear-cut plans of stopping the MI opener and it was more of hoping that one of them ended up making a mistake.
"Sometimes in such games, it almost looks like you are aimless as a captain. When two players are flying like they were at the top of the order for MI, you feel like there is nothing you can do. But it looked like there were no clear-cut plans on how they were going to pick up a wicket or restrict scoring. It didn't look like they went to something unique, but more a case of them hoping the MI openers get out," said Pollock.
LSG will take on RCB in their next match on May 7 in Lucknow.
IPL 2026 | IPL Schedule | IPL Points Table | IPL Player Stats | Purple Cap | Orange Cap | IPL Videos | Cricket News | Live Score