Rishabh Pant bombs another game for LSG as no-show Sanjiv Goenka reacts online: 'Definitely need a break'

It was a dramatic night in IPL 2026 as Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Lucknow Super Giants in a thrilling Super Over at the Ekana Stadium in Sunday. However, the spotlight once again fell on LSG skipper Rishabh Pant, who failed to guide his team home in another crunch situation.

The match had everything. KKR were in early trouble after losing quick wickets, but Rinku Singh produced a stunning rescue act. The left-hander smashed an unbeaten 83 off 51 balls, including four sixes in the final over, to lift KKR to 155/7. It was a knock that reminded everyone of his famous finishing heroics from IPL 2023.

In reply, LSG never really got going. Aiden Markram and Pant tried to steady things, but the scoring rate kept climbing. Pant managed 42 off 38 balls but once again failed to accelerate when it mattered most, putting his team under pressure in the chase.

Rinku continued to dominate the game in the field as well, taking five catches to keep KKR in control. The match then took a wild turn in the final over bowled by Kartik Tyagi. With 17 needed, Tyagi bowled two no-balls and was close to being taken off the attack.

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However, the umpires allowed him to continue, and he responded with a crucial wicket of impact sub Himmat Singh. Despite that, Mohammed Shami smashed a six on the last ball with 7 runs needed to win to tie the match and push it into a Super Over.

In the Super Over, LSG’s decision-making came under question. They sent Markram and Nicholas Pooran to bat against Sunil Narine, despite Pooran’s poor form this season. The move backfired badly as Narine conceded just one run while picking up two wickets.

KKR needed only two runs, and Rinku finished it in just one ball, sealing one of the most dramatic wins of the season. It was the least balls taken to win a Super Over in IPL history.

Pant says they need a break

After the match, Pant admitted that the team is going through a tough phase and needs to reset mentally. "We definitely need a break. We are going to refresh. It is going to be a pressure game always. We need to take accountability - each and every guy. It has to be about the entire team. There might not be enough positives right now but after the break, there will surely be," Pant said.

Meanwhile, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was noticeably absent from the game, which caught attention given his regular presence at matches. He reacted on social media during the game, praising the bowling effort of Mohsin Khan but did not mention Pant at all.

The LSG owner is known to be very involved in his team's matches, regularly seen interacting with players and even having on-field discussions after games. This has also created a perception that Goenka keeps a tight grip on team matters. However, his absence from the LSG vs KKR game has raised some questions.