Rishabh Pant hits back at critics, says ‘I want to let my bat do the talking’ after LSG’s first IPL 2026 win

Rishabh Pant has never been the kind of cricketer who needs much noise around him to perform and on Sunday evening at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium he let his batting do exactly what he said it would.

Under pressure from outside chatter about his T20 approach and with LSG desperately needing their first win of the tournament, Pant walked out and played a composed unbeaten 68 off 50 balls to guide Lucknow Super Giants to a nervy five-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad, chasing down 157 with a ball to spare.

Afterwards he was measured, gracious and completely unbothered by the criticism that had been swirling around him.

LSG captain Rishabh Pant’s response to the critics

The questions about Rishabh Pant’s T20 batting approach have been getting louder and on Sunday night he addressed them with the kind of quiet confidence that defines him at his best. “I know I’m preparing well. I want to let my bat do the talking. My colleagues and management see how hard I work, that’s what matters. I just don’t want to talk about that,” Rishabh Pant said at the post-match presentation.

It was not a defiant response or an angry one, it was simply a man who knows what he is doing and has no interest in justifying himself to anyone outside the dressing room.

He also spoke about the importance of finishing games under pressure, saying that getting over the line in tight situations adds immense value to a team’s confidence and belief. “When you get this at the last and finish the game, definitely a big plus for us,” he added.

Also READ: ‘Masterclass’: Fans applaud as Mohammed Shami produces career-best economic spell during SRH vs LSG game

How LSG won the game against SRH

The foundation for LSG’s victory was laid by their bowlers, particularly Mohammed Shami who struck early and decisively to remove both SRH openers cheaply, Abhishek Sharma for zero and Travis Head for just seven.

Those two early wickets changed the entire complexion of the innings and restricted SRH to 156 for nine, a total that would have been far lower without a brilliant 116-run fifth wicket stand between Heinrich Klaasen, who hit 62 off 41 balls, and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who contributed 56 off 33.

Rishabh Pant was generous in his praise for his bowlers after the game, pointing out that Shami, Avesh Khan, Digvesh Rathi and debutant Manimaran Siddharth all executed their plans effectively. “You’ve got to appreciate the bowlers because those are the people who set you up for the night, especially when you bowl first,” he said.

In the chase, Aiden Markram contributed a composed 45 before Pant took over and played the kind of responsible anchor innings that his critics say he cannot play in T20 cricket.