LSG Coach Disagrees with Rishabh Pant on Delhi Capitals' Victory-"We Didn't Score Enough Runs"

In a nail-biting match between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in IPL 2025, a surprise hero stepped up to pen an unforgettable finish. While DC was celebrating a stunning win, there were differing views in the LSG camp over why they had fallen just short of winning. LSG's assistant coach Lance Klusener was openly at variance with his team captain Rishabh Pant about whether their score was enough to be competitive on the Visakhapatnam track.

A Breathtaking Pursuit Seeded by an Unreleased Star

Delhi Capitals were in desperate trouble in the early part of the chase of a formidable 210-run target, struggling at 65/5. With their leading order collapsing, the match seemed to be getting out of their hands. Before the situation seemed completely out of hand, a surprise hero saved the day.

Uncapped talent Ashutosh Sharma walked onto the pitch as a game-changing substitute for Mukesh Kumar and produced a match-winning innings that left cricket enthusiasts agog. Exuding maturity beyond his years, Ashutosh calmed the innings, counterattacked with terrific power hitting, and eventually wrapped up the game with a winning six. His unbeaten 66 off 31 balls not only stole victory from the jaws of defeat but also reflected the gigantic depth in DC's team. His performance infused new life into Delhi's campaign, setting the tone for the remainder of the tournament.

Even though DC had a thrilling victory, the post-match discussion was not what it was supposed to be. Rishabh Pant, the captain of Delhi Capitals, felt that LSG had set a good total and that their batsmen had played well on a good batting pitch. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he asserted with confidence, "I think our top-order batters played really well, and I think it was a pretty good score on this wicket."

But Lance Klusener, the assistant coach of LSG and a ex-South African cricketer, had other views. In his opinion, LSG's batting department has not performed according to expectations and has been short by at least 20-30 runs.

If I had to place my finger on it, I would say we left 20 or 30 runs out there with the bat. That was most likely the reason why we found ourselves under pressure while bowling," Klusener was quoted saying in an interview to India Today.

Klusener admitted that DC played the end of the match superbly but LSG's biggest failure was that they couldn't put up a more formidable total. In his opinion, the pitch favored batting, though there was support for spinners, and that their bowlers would have been given a fairer chance to defend a better score.

I thought when the bowlers got it right there was a bit of spin involved, so I thought it was a very good wicket. There was something in it for everyone," Klusener said.

He also stated that although LSG's bowling was problematic, their veteran batting lineup should have made better use of the conditions. "Bowling was maybe a bit rougher than the batting, but with the power and experience we have in the lineup, we should have come up with a bigger score," he further stated.

Lessons for the Next Game

In spite of the frustration of the defeat, Klusener insisted on keeping a positive attitude. With their next game only three days ahead, he insisted that they should make sure the young players stay motivated and have confidence in themselves.

"We have to keep the youngsters motivated and make them have faith in their abilities. Defeats like these are difficult, but they are also learning experiences," said Klusener.

Though LSG will be looking to recover and do better in their future games, Delhi Capitals will derive massive confidence from this nail-biting victory. Ashutosh Sharma's arrival as a finisher brings an extra dimension to their team, with them gaining another advantage as the tournament wears on.

This game would be remembered for its nail-biting finish and emergence of a less-known superstar. It also indicated the power of perspective in cricket—while Pant believed that LSG's score was adequate, Klusener's opinion intimated that a better batting performance would have resulted in victory for LSG.

As the IPL 2025 progresses, teams will review such nail-biting finishes to ensure they correct their strategic moves to prevent a repeat of the same. Meanwhile, Delhi rejoices over a heroic chase, and Lucknow turns inward for answers and an improved comeback