Rishabh Pant’s Late Heroics Seal Thrilling Win for LSG Over SRH in IPL 2026

Hyderabad, April 2026: In a match that ebbed and flowed dramatically till the very last delivery, Lucknow Super Giants skipper Rishabh Pant held his composure to guide his side to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday.

Chasing a target of 157, Lucknow crossed the line at 160/5 in 19.5 overs, but not before surviving a tense final-over scare that saw Hyderabad claw their way back into contention. Pant sealed the contest in style, driving Jaydev Unadkat for a boundary over mid-off off the penultimate ball, capping off a gripping encounter and handing Lucknow their first win of the season.

Hyderabad’s Collapse and Remarkable Recovery

Earlier in the evening, Sunrisers Hyderabad endured a nightmare start after being put in to bat. Mohammed Shami struck in the very first over, removing Abhishek Sharma for a duck with a cleverly disguised slower delivery. He soon struck again, dismissing Travis Head, who mistimed a shot to mid-off.

The early blows left Hyderabad reeling, and things worsened when Prince Yadav cleaned up Ishan Kishan with a sharp inswinger. At 11/3 inside four overs, the hosts were in deep trouble.

The collapse continued as wickets fell at regular intervals. Liam Livingstone attempted to counterattack but fell cheaply to leg-spinner Digvesh Rathi, who induced a mistimed paddle shot that was safely taken by Pant behind the stumps. At the halfway mark, Hyderabad were struggling at 35/4, staring at a below-par total.

However, what followed was a stunning turnaround led by Heinrich Klaasen and Nitish Kumar Reddy. The duo initially focused on rebuilding the innings, rotating the strike and stabilising the situation before launching a calculated counterattack.

Reddy took the aggressive route, smashing powerful sixes and putting pressure back on the bowlers, while Klaasen complemented him with precise shot placement and intelligent strokeplay. The partnership gathered pace after the halfway stage, turning the tide in Hyderabad’s favour.

Klaasen was particularly severe on Avesh Khan, hitting him for four consecutive boundaries in one over, while Reddy continued to target both pace and spin with confidence. The pair stitched together a remarkable 116-run partnership for the fifth wicket, lifting Hyderabad from a precarious position to a competitive one.

Klaasen scored a fluent 62 off 41 balls, while Reddy hammered 56 off 33 deliveries, their efforts reviving the innings spectacularly.

Late Strikes Restrict Hyderabad

Just when Hyderabad looked set for a total well beyond 170, Lucknow’s bowlers staged a comeback in the death overs. Manimaran Siddharth broke the crucial partnership by dismissing Reddy, and Klaasen followed soon after, edging a reverse shot to Pant.

Avesh Khan then struck twice in quick succession, triggering a late collapse, while Prince Yadav wrapped up the tail with disciplined bowling. A run-out in the final over further dented Hyderabad’s momentum, restricting them to 156/9 in 20 overs—a total that seemed competitive but not commanding.

Lucknow’s Chase: Control, Collapse, and Composure

In response, Lucknow began confidently with Aiden Markram leading the charge. He played fluently in the powerplay, timing the ball beautifully and scoring briskly to put Hyderabad under early pressure. His knock of 45 set the tone before he was dismissed by young spinner Shivang Kumar.

Pant then took over the responsibility of anchoring the innings. Though not at his most fluent, he ensured that the scoreboard kept ticking, rotating the strike effectively and building partnerships.

Hyderabad, however, refused to back down. The dismissal of Nicholas Pooran through a sharp run-out shifted the momentum, and Harsh Dubey further tightened the screws by removing Ayush Badoni.

With pressure mounting, Abdul Samad provided a timely cameo, striking crucial boundaries that brought Lucknow closer to the target. But his dismissal in the 18th over by Dubey once again opened the contest.

A brilliant penultimate over from Harshal Patel conceded just four runs, leaving Lucknow needing nine runs from the final over—setting up a dramatic finish.

Pant Finishes in Style

With nerves running high, Pant rose to the occasion. Showing remarkable composure, he struck two boundaries early in the final over, swinging the equation decisively in Lucknow’s favour. With just a few runs needed, he finished the match in style with a crisp boundary, remaining unbeaten on 68.

A Match of Momentum Swings

The match was a perfect example of T20 cricket’s unpredictability. Hyderabad’s collapse and recovery, followed by Lucknow’s steady chase and late wobble, ensured a nail-biting contest for fans.

While Klaasen and Reddy’s partnership gave Hyderabad hope, it was ultimately Pant’s calm leadership and finishing ability that made the difference. Lucknow Super Giants will take immense confidence from this win, while Sunrisers Hyderabad can draw positives from their fighting spirit despite ending on the losing side.

Brief Scores:
Sunrisers Hyderabad 156/9 (Heinrich Klaasen 62, Nitish Kumar Reddy 56; Mohammed Shami 2-9, Prince Yadav 2-34) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 160/5 (Rishabh Pant 68*, Aiden Markram 45; Harsh Dubey 2-18) by five wickets.