Rishabh Pant Apologizes to Lucknow Super Giants Fans as PBKS Opt to Bowl
In Match 68 of the 2026 Indian Premier League season, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant issued a public apology to the franchise’s supporters following a disappointing campaign. The statement came shortly after Punjab Kings (PBKS) captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field first at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Lucknow’s Struggles and Pant’s Assessment
LSG enters their final league match playing purely for pride. Having managed just four wins against nine defeats in 13 matches, they became the first team mathematically eliminated from playoff contention this season. As documented by ESPN Cricinfo, this marks the third consecutive year the Lucknow-based franchise failed to advance past the league stage, following seventh-place finishes in both 2024 and 2025.
“It has been a tough season, but at the same time, there has been a lot of learning, both for the team and personally,” Pant stated during the pre-match proceedings. “I would say sorry to the fans; they have come from all over UP. It has been tough going for us, but we will give our 100 percent today.”
Pant also evaluated the pitch conditions, predicting a favorable surface for batters regardless of whether a team sets or chases a target. He confirmed two lineup changes for LSG, bringing in Arjun Tendulkar and Arshin Kulkarni.
Punjab Kings Chase Playoff Qualification
Conversely, the Punjab Kings arrived in Lucknow requiring a mandatory victory to keep their playoff hopes alive within the highly competitive domestic structure recognized by the International Cricket Council. PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer expressed optimism about his squad’s momentum and readiness.
“We will bowl first,” Iyer announced. “Two changes: Marco Jansen and Vijaykumar Vyshak are in. The feeling is exciting. We have never been in this situation before, and the boys are waiting to do their best.”
Match 68 Playing XIs
Both teams submitted their final playing elevens and impact substitutes prior to the first ball. Below is the structured breakdown of the confirmed squads for this encounter.
| Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) | Punjab Kings (PBKS) |
|---|---|
| Playing XI: Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni, Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary, Arjun Tendulkar, Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, Mohsin Khan | Playing XI: Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (c), Suryansh Shedge, Shashank Singh, Azmatullah Omarzai, Marco Jansen, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal |
| Impact Players: Shahbaz Ahmed, Digvesh Singh Rathi, Manimaran Siddharth, Himmat Singh, Akash Maharaj Singh | Impact Players: Harpreet Brar, Marcus Stoinis, Xavier Bartlett, Vishnu Vinod, Praveen Dubey |
Looking Ahead
While LSG looks to conclude their turbulent season on a positive note in front of their home crowd, PBKS carries the weight of playoff implications into every delivery. The outcome at the Ekana Cricket Stadium will heavily influence the final standings as the league approaches the knockout phase.