Lucknow Super Giants have hit a rough patch with two losses in three games, and team mentor Zaheer Khan didn’t hold back after a crushing defeat to Punjab Kings. Following the game, he slammed the home-ground pitch, remarking it seemed like the PBKS “curator out here.”
In a match where LSG was tasked with defending 172 runs on a pitch that offered unpredictable bounce and grip, they faltered as PBKS’s Prabhsimran Singh smashed a blistering 34-ball 69, leading to a disheartening eight-wicket loss. This leaves LSG languishing at No. 6, with just one win from three games and a negative net run rate.
“What was a little disappointing for me here, considering it's a home game, and you know, in IPL you've seen how teams have looked at taking a little bit of home advantage,” Zaheer said candidly during the post-match press conference. “So yeah, from that point of view, you've seen the curator is not really thinking that it's a home game. You know, I think maybe it looked like, you know, it was Punjab curator out here.”
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His criticism didn’t stop there; he said that such a pitch could deprive the home fans of the thrilling victories they crave. “So, that's (pitch) something which we'll figure out. It's a new setup also for me here. But I hope that this is the first and the last game when it comes to that, because you are disappointing the Lucknow fans as well.”
This comes amid an ongoing controversy of Eden Gardens' pitch curator 'refusing' to alter pitch as desired by the home team.
Zaheer acknowledged the high expectations of the fans for their inaugural home game, and said, “They've come up with so much expectations of winning the first home game here. As a team, we are confident, you know, we accept that we've lost the game, and we're going to do whatever it takes to make that impact in the home leg. We still have six more games to go here.”
Reflecting on the team’s aspirations, he said that they are going to focus on the positives. "Yes, there is some work to be done, which will happen in the due course.” This loss marked LSG’s first home game of the season, and while disappointing, Zaheer insisted on maintaining a long-term vision. “See, that's the nature of IPL, isn't it? You will be on the go, you'll be playing home games, away games. It was the first home game for us for this season, so yes, there were a lot of expectations and hopes. Punjab did outplay us, that's how the game went.”
Zaheer stressed on the importance of setting parameters for the team to follow. “For us, it's important that we look at the whole group as one and with one mission, one vision, going out there, finding ways to win games. So, when you're looking at it that way, you know, there are going to be good days, bad days for us as we move along in the tournament. What matters is how we're looking at things.”
He conveyed optimism about the team's potential, and said, “This team has shown in the season so far, whatever little cricket is played, that we have the right outlook and the mindset to look at IPL, to look at the games. What you can expect is innovation, out of the box thinking, the fight, the hunger.
"And I think, you know, that sums up, you know, that sums up a team. And I think, you know, that's something which we want to give it to the fans. We want to give it to the loyalists of Lucknow Super Giants. So that's how we are looking at things.”
(With PTI inputs)
In a match where LSG was tasked with defending 172 runs on a pitch that offered unpredictable bounce and grip, they faltered as PBKS’s Prabhsimran Singh smashed a blistering 34-ball 69, leading to a disheartening eight-wicket loss. This leaves LSG languishing at No. 6, with just one win from three games and a negative net run rate.
“What was a little disappointing for me here, considering it's a home game, and you know, in IPL you've seen how teams have looked at taking a little bit of home advantage,” Zaheer said candidly during the post-match press conference. “So yeah, from that point of view, you've seen the curator is not really thinking that it's a home game. You know, I think maybe it looked like, you know, it was Punjab curator out here.”
Also Read: Digvesh Rathi's 'Kersik Williams' like celebration after Priyansh Arya's wicket costs him big in only his third match
His criticism didn’t stop there; he said that such a pitch could deprive the home fans of the thrilling victories they crave. “So, that's (pitch) something which we'll figure out. It's a new setup also for me here. But I hope that this is the first and the last game when it comes to that, because you are disappointing the Lucknow fans as well.”
This comes amid an ongoing controversy of Eden Gardens' pitch curator 'refusing' to alter pitch as desired by the home team.
Zaheer acknowledged the high expectations of the fans for their inaugural home game, and said, “They've come up with so much expectations of winning the first home game here. As a team, we are confident, you know, we accept that we've lost the game, and we're going to do whatever it takes to make that impact in the home leg. We still have six more games to go here.”
LSG mentor's plan for future
Despite the setback, Zaheer remained focused on a “process-oriented setup” rather than succumbing to the pressure of immediate results. “This is the third game of the season, you know, so we've been very vocal about how the team is looking at this season. So, that's something which is very important for us as a group. It's a very process-oriented setup, not so much result-oriented.”Reflecting on the team’s aspirations, he said that they are going to focus on the positives. "Yes, there is some work to be done, which will happen in the due course.” This loss marked LSG’s first home game of the season, and while disappointing, Zaheer insisted on maintaining a long-term vision. “See, that's the nature of IPL, isn't it? You will be on the go, you'll be playing home games, away games. It was the first home game for us for this season, so yes, there were a lot of expectations and hopes. Punjab did outplay us, that's how the game went.”
Zaheer stressed on the importance of setting parameters for the team to follow. “For us, it's important that we look at the whole group as one and with one mission, one vision, going out there, finding ways to win games. So, when you're looking at it that way, you know, there are going to be good days, bad days for us as we move along in the tournament. What matters is how we're looking at things.”
He conveyed optimism about the team's potential, and said, “This team has shown in the season so far, whatever little cricket is played, that we have the right outlook and the mindset to look at IPL, to look at the games. What you can expect is innovation, out of the box thinking, the fight, the hunger.
"And I think, you know, that sums up, you know, that sums up a team. And I think, you know, that's something which we want to give it to the fans. We want to give it to the loyalists of Lucknow Super Giants. So that's how we are looking at things.”
(With PTI inputs)
