[India], Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh), The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain, Rishabh Pant, said after his team’s defeat against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) that they are still evaluating the situation since it was their first game at the home ground, Ekana ground in Lucknow, and they fell 20–25 runs short.

Pant-led LSG failed to satisfy their supporters at home at the beginning of their campaign because, in addition to the captain’s own poor batting performance, the power-packed lineup managed just 171/7, which was chased down by PBKS thanks to outstanding knocks from batsmen Prabhsimran Singh, captain Shreyas Iyer, and Nehal Wadhera that replicated the attacking intent that LSG should have displayed under their home conditions.

“It (the total) was not enough, we were 20-25 runs short, but that’s part and parcel of the game,” Pant said during the post-match presentation after the game. We’re still evaluating the situation at home. Losing early wickets will always make it tough to reach a large total, but every player is making a concerted effort to advance the game. Getting a sluggish wicket was the goal. The slower balls were sticking in, I believe. We were able to grow from this game and carry on. There are too many pros to list them all.

Ayush Badoni (41 in 33 balls, with a four and three sixes), Nicholas Pooran (44 in 30 balls, with five fours and three sixes), and a fiery cameo by Abdul Samad (27 in 12 balls, with two fours and two sixes) gave LSG something to fight for after they were put to bat first and were reeling at 35/3. With three wickets and figures of 3/43, Arshdeep was the best bowler. With the exception of a half-century partnership between Pooran and Badoni for the fourth wicket, nothing really got going for LSG as they found it difficult to establish lasting partnerships. Other wickets taken were Marco Jansen, Lockie Ferguson, Glenn Maxwell, and Yuzi Chahal.

PBKS did lost Priyansh Arya (8) early in the run-chase. However, with 22 balls remaining, PBKS won by eight wickets thanks to powerful performances by Prabhsimran Singh (69 in 34 balls, with nine fours and two sixes), captain Shreyas Iyer (52* in 30 balls, with three fours and four sixes), and Nehal Wadhera (43* in 25 balls, with three fours and four sixes).

Digvesh Rathi’s four-over spell of 2/30 was insufficient.

LSG dropped to sixth place with a victory and two defeats, while PBKS, now in second place in the points standings, made it two victories in two.