Lucknow Super Giants were unable to maintain their composure in the closing overs against Chennai Super Kings, resulting in their third defeat of the season. Captain Rishabh Pant depended on his fast bowlers to secure victory in the final five overs at Ekana Stadium, facing the renowned MS Dhoni and Shivam Dube. With 56 runs needed in the last five overs, Pant opted for Avesh Khan and Shardul Thakur to tackle the challenging situation. Despite leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi having a commendable performance with two wickets for 18 runs in three overs, he was not given the opportunity to bowl his fourth over. Although the spinners received some assistance and CSK's recent performance against spin was subpar, Pant refrained from utilizing Bishnoi against the opposition's two key finishers.

Following the match, Bishnoi shared that he approached the wicket a few times in hopes of bowling his fourth over but did not question Pant about it, as he trusted his captain's judgment. 

"I didn't really discuss it with Pant, but I did go to the wicket a couple of times. I believe he had specific plans he wanted to implement," Bishnoi stated during the post-match press conference. "In such scenarios, the captain is in a better position and also keeps wicket, so he has a clearer understanding of the situation. I think he made the decision he believed was best," he added.

Unfortunately, Pant's strategy did not yield the desired results. Shardul Thakur proved to be costly in his final two overs, conceding 32 runs, including a 19-run over where he struggled with his line and length.

Ravi Bishnoi backs Rishabh Pant despite failed plan

Earlier  This season, captains strategically relied on their spinners in critical moments against Dhoni. For instance, Sanju Samson opted for Maheesh Theekshana in the 18th over when CSK required 45 runs from 18 balls, while Axar Patel chose to bowl himself in the 17th over. Similarly, Shreyas Iyer, the skipper of Punjab Kings, entrusted Yuzvendra Chahal to bowl the 17th over with 68 runs needed to win against CSK. In each of these instances, the spinners successfully executed their roles, as Dhoni was unable to secure a boundary.

Moreover, the renowned CSK wicketkeeper-batsman has recorded a disappointing strike rate of 94.23 against spin in the IPL since 2020, accumulating 14 fours and nine sixes from 243 balls faced.

Bishnoi expressed confidence in Pant's strategies, emphasizing that in such high-pressure situations, it is crucial for the captain to maintain a clear mindset when making decisions. "He was clear in his mind, and it's advantageous for the captain to think clearly in tense moments," he remarked.

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