When Nicholas Pooran was dismissed during the 12th over against the Delhi Capitals, the Lucknow Super Giants had a score of 99 for 2. It was anticipated that LSG captain Rishabh Pant would come to the crease, but instead, Abdul Samad was sent in.

This decision was puzzling, especially considering that a left-handed batsman would have been a more logical replacement for Pooran. The surprises continued as Mukesh Kumar dismissed both Samad and Mitchell Marsh in the following over, allowing DC to stage a strong comeback, yet Rishabh Pant remained absent from the batting order. LSG opted to send David Miller and Ayush Badoni in front of the talented left-hander, who had not been performing well in this IPL season. Pant finally made his entrance at No. 7 with only two balls remaining in the innings.

He charged at Mukesh Kumar but failed to make contact with the ball on his first attempt. On the final delivery, Mukesh bowled a low full toss directed at his legs, and Pant attempted a reverse lap shot over the wicketkeeper, only to inadvertently hit the ball back onto his stumps. It was a disappointing day for both LSG and Pant, as their strategies did not yield the desired results.

Upon being dismissed, Pant turned and stormed back to the pavilion, his frustration and anger evident on his face. Was his ire directed at his own dismissal or at the fact that he batted so late? Former Indian cricketers Anil Kumble and Suresh Raina suggested it was the latter, as a visibly upset Pant expressed his discontent in the LSG dugout. Kumble remarked on Star Sports, 'It is acceptable to want to bat more freely under less pressure by coming in late, but this was excessively late.

The level of frustration Rishabh is displaying indicates that he feels wronged. He likely wished to bat higher in the order. Was this his decision, or was it made by coach Justin Langer or perhaps mentor Zaheer Khan? Whose decision was it? His frustration was quite apparent.'

Pant's animated chat with Zaheer Khan

Pant was seen having an animated chat with former India pacer and current LSG mentor Zaheer Khan in the dugout moments after his dismissal.

Interestingly, Pant's first outburst at Zaheer came in the 19th over when he was all padded up, waiting in the dugout to come out to bat.

His Suresh Raina noted that the reaction did not go unnoticed, suggesting that the discussion likely revolved around his batting position. Kumble remarked that Pant should have managed his frustration more effectively, given his role as captain. 'In such situations, one must find a way to maintain composure.

As captain, he should approach it positively. Any frustration or anger he experiences should be transformed into constructive performance,' stated the former India captain. It was a forgettable day for LSG and Pant, as they faltered to 159/6 following an 87-run opening partnership. In response, DC's KL Rahul and Abishek Proel both scored half-centuries, successfully chasing down the target in just 17.5 overs.

Following the match, Pant acknowledged the need to reassess their batting strategy. 'The plan was to take advantage of the conditions. We sent Samad in to exploit the wicket, and then Miller came in, but we found ourselves struggling on the pitch. Ultimately, these are the challenges we need to address as we seek to establish our optimal lineup moving forward,' he commented regarding his batting position.

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