Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) assistant coach Lance Klusner acknowledged that his team didn’t post enough runs on the board of their match against Delhi Capitals (DC). Despite strong performances from Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran, LSG’s batting lineup collapsed after a promising start.
At one point, the team was cruising at 161/3 in 13.4 overs, but Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc triggered a dramatic downfall, restricting them to 209/8. Key batters like Rishabh Pant, Ayush Badoni, and Shardul Thakur fell cheaply, with Pant and Thakur dismissed for geese.
Klusner highlighted the necessity for greater partnerships and noted that while the team gained positives from young players stepping up, they ultimately left crucial runs out on the sphere. He emphasized that capitalizing on strong starts and constructing momentum can be essential for LSG moving forward.
Injury-Stricken Bowling Attack
Klusner also identified LSG’s struggle with a depleted bowling lineup, as several key pacers—Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Mayank Yadav, and Akash Deep—were unavailable because of injuries. The team was forced to depend on just two frontline fast bowlers, Shardul Thakur and the inexperienced Prince Yadav, while fielding 4 spinners: Manimaran Siddharth, Digvesh Rathi, Ravi Bishnoi, and Shahbaz Ahmed.
The assistant coach admitted that until their key bowlers return, LSG could have to “mix and match” their attack. He acknowledged that while the team bowled well in certain phases, inconsistency cost them the match. Klusner praised Shardul Thakur’s early impact, as he picked up two wickets in his first over, and expressed optimism about young bowlers getting precious experience within the IPL.
Ashutosh’s Heroics Seal the Match for DC
Despite LSG’s efforts, DC pulled off a remarkable run chase of 210, due to a sensational knock from Ashutosh Sharma. After losing half their side for just 65 runs, DC found stability through partnerships between Ashutosh and Tristan Stubbs (34 off 22 balls) and, later Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15 balls). Ashutosh played match-winning innings, ending the chase with just three balls to spare.
Klusner lauded the Ashutosh-Vipraj partnership, calling it a turning point within the match. He acknowledged that DC’s lower-order batting applied significant pressure, profiting from the conditions. In the long run, Ashutosh’s brilliance overshadowed LSG’s initial dominance, earning him the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
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