Mohammad Kaif Slams Rishabh Pant As Mukul Choudhary Stars in LSG vs KKR Thriller

Rishabh Pant faces criticism for inconsistency as Mukul Choudhary’s heroics seal a dramatic LSG win, while Gavaskar raises concerns over Nicholas Pooran’s form.

Lucknow Super Giants secured a thrilling three-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders, but questions continue to surround Rishabh Pant’s inconsistency. After showing promise with a half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pant once again failed to convert his start, managing just 10 off 8 balls. His dismissal came off a short ball from Cameron Green, which he top-edged to be caught near the short fine leg region.

At the time of his departure, LSG were placed at 73/2 in 8.1 overs, a position that did not indicate immediate trouble. However, a middle-order collapse saw them slip to 128/7, putting the chase in jeopardy before a remarkable turnaround.

Former India batter Mohammad Kaif expressed disappointment over Pant’s inability to anchor the innings, stating, “…the team needed him (Pant) to stay till the end. He is an experienced player, having been in the IPL since 2016. The situation when he came out to bat was not particularly difficult. LSG had already scored 41 in the first five overs. One batter needed to take responsibility and bat through the chase. That role was meant for Pant,” Kaif said on Star Sports.

He further added, “As captain, if you don’t take responsibility, you cannot help your team win games. Yes, he did well against SRH, but he needs to find consistency. Playing one good knock and then failing in the next few games is not enough. He has to read the match situation better and learn when to shift gears. A captain’s job is to stay till the end in a chase, and that is something Pant must work on,” he added.

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Mukul Choudhary’s Heroics Turn the Game

While Pant struggled, it was the young Mukul Choudhary who emerged as the match-winner for LSG. With the team under pressure at 128/7, Choudhary delivered a stunning counterattack, smashing a blistering half-century that turned the game on its head.

His fearless approach ensured LSG chased down the target in dramatic fashion, sealing the win on the final ball. Despite the spotlight being on the youngster’s breakthrough performance, the match also highlighted the lack of contributions from senior players.