“Thanks for Being Soft”: Rishabh Pant’s Cheeky Moment After LSG’s 5th Loss Goes Viral
Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant had a mixed night on Wednesday after his side suffered their fifth defeat in seven matches of IPL 2026, going down to Rajasthan Royals by 40 runs. While the result further dented LSG’s campaign, it was Pant’s light-hearted exchange after the match that grabbed attention.
Lucknow Super Giants were bundled out for just 119 while chasing 160, with their batting collapsing early. Shockingly, four batters were dismissed for ducks, including Ayush Badoni and Aiden Markram, leaving the chase in disarray at 11/3.
Despite the batting failure, the post-match conversation focused on both concerns and positives. Former New Zealand cricketer and commentator Simon Doull pointed out encouraging signs from LSG’s bowling unit, where Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, and Prince Yadav all picked up two wickets each and kept Rajasthan Royals to a manageable total.
During the interaction, Pant acknowledged the positives but also admitted the team’s struggles.
“We still want to look at the positives. We know we have the firepower and we want to believe in it,” Pant said.
However, the tone shifted when Doull added a softer remark at the end of the chat, saying, “I know these ones aren’t easy, Rishabh.”
Pant responded with a wry smile and a cheeky comment, saying, “Thanks for being soft today,” accompanied by a playful wink — a moment that quickly went viral among fans.
Tough season continues for Pant and LSG
It has been a difficult campaign for Pant both as captain and batter. Bought for a record ₹27 crore, making him the most expensive player in IPL history, expectations have been high, but consistency has been missing.
So far, Pant has managed 147 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 132.43, including just one half-century. His struggles have mirrored those of the batting unit as a whole.
One of the biggest concerns for LSG has been the form of Nicholas Pooran, who has also endured a poor run, scoring just 73 runs in seven matches at a strike rate of 82.02.
With the team languishing in ninth place, LSG now face mounting pressure to turn their season around quickly before the tournament slips further away from them.
