Lucknow, May 8 Former India wicketkeeper-batter Aditya Tare praised Rishabh Pant for his bold and effective captaincy, highlighting good bowlers' rotation during Lucknow Super Giants’ thrilling nine-run victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Defending 213 in the rain-curtailed 19-overs-a-side contest, LSG survived a late scare from RCB before restricting the visitors to 203/6, with Pant’s bowling changes and tactical calls proving decisive in the closing stages.
“Lucknow Super Giants started their bowling innings in incredible fashion. Mohammed Shami has been a master of picking up wickets in the first over this season, and he did it again against RCB,” Tare told Jio Hotstar.
Tare highlighted how Pant handled a crucial phase of the innings when LSG were yet to use a fifth bowler by the end of the 12th over.
“Then came a moment where Rishabh Pant’s captaincy was tested.
“Pant has been feeling the heat as the captain of LSG this season, but against RCB, he rotated his bowlers smartly and got the best out of everyone,” he added.
Tare also praised Pant’s decision to trust Digvesh Singh Rathi with the final over despite the spinner conceding heavily earlier in the innings.
“In a high-pressure final over, the captain’s decision can make or break the game, and Rishabh Pant handing the ball to Digvesh Rathi for the final over was a risky move,” Tare said.
“Rathi had gone for 41 runs in his first three overs and was clearly struggling for confidence. But Pant backed him, trusting that Rathi’s googly could make the difference. And that’s exactly what happened.”
Tare also reserved praise for young pacer Prince Yadav, who dismissed Virat Kohli with a superb delivery and also took three crucial wickets.
"Prince Yadav produced a gem of a delivery to dismiss the chase master Virat Kohli. This dismissal against LSG is Kohli’s first in a 200-plus chase in nearly a decade. Full credit to Prince Yadav for his accuracy and big-game temperament," he said.
Meanwhile, despite the win, LSG are still at the bottom of the points table with six points in ten matches.
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