Rishabh Pant's special mention for Sanjiv Goenka amid LSG's poor IPL 2026; makes 200% promise ‘to bring happiness back’
Under Rishabh Pant, Lucknow Super Giants won just two games out of eight matches so far in IPL 2026. With just four points, LSG are languishing at the bottom of the points table.
Rishabh Pant had no second-thought in admitting Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) didn't play to their potential in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Studded with some of the biggest names in world cricket, LSG have been able to win just two of their eight games (before MI vs LSG clash) and are languishing at the bottom of the IPL 2025 points table.
LSG had a good if not great run in their first two seasons, qualifying for the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 seasons of IPL. However, things took a different turn there on as the Sanjiv Goenka-owned side finished seventh in 2024 and 2025. Pant admitted that LSG's poor show had affected Goenka - one of the passionate owners in the IPL.
“It's been a tough season for us, and there is no running away from that, but one person for us who has had the most difficult time is our owner, Mr Goenka; he's one of those guys. Everyone knows how passionate he is about cricket and about his team,” Pant said after losing the coin toss to Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
The LSG skipper also vowed to give their 200% from here on and do whatever they can to bring back the smile on Goenka's face and the fans. “But at the same time we let down our fans down. The only promise is from this break is, we're gonna give our 200%, try to bring that happiness back and hopefully we can do it for our owner and the fans for sure,” he added.
LSG are coming into this game after losing to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a Super Over at home on March 26. With a one-week break, Pant stated tha break did help to kind of get together. “It definitely [did], a lot of reflection, what we can do and what we can do as a team and as an individual,” he said.
Rohit Sharma returns after five games
Meanwhile, LSG were sent to bat first after Mumbai Indians captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss. Suryakumar is leading Mumbai Indians in place of regular skipper Hardik Pandya, who suffered a back spasm while Rohit Sharma is back as an impact player.
Corbin Bosch has come in place of Trent Boult for Mumbai Indians. For LSG, Josh Inglis made his debut while Mukul Choudhary made way for debutant Akshat Raghuwanshi.
MI vs LSG playing XIs
Mumbai Indians: Ryan Rickelton (wk), Naman Dhir, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Will Jacks, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, AM Ghazanfar, Raghu Sharma.
Lucknow Super Giants: Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Josh Inglis, Nicholas Pooran, Akshat Raghuwanshi, Himmat Singh, Mohammed Shami, Mohsin Khan, Avesh Khan, Prince Yadav.
Catch the live updates from IPL 2026 with the complete IPL 2026 Schedule and the IPL 2026 Points Table. Also, know who are currently leading the charts in IPL 2026 Orange Cap and IPL 2026 Purple Cap.
About the Author
Koushik lives and breathes sports. After transitioning from his own aspirations of becoming a professional athlete, he successfully channeled that lifelong passion into a prolific career, documenting the action both from the sidelines and the editorial desk. With over eight years of industry experience, Koushik joined LiveMint as a Deputy Chief Content Producer in 2024, following impactful stints at Outlook India, India.com, Sportskeeda, Women’s CricZone, and OrissaPOST. A 2017 Journalism and Mass Communication graduate from Maharaja Manindra Chandra College, Kolkata, Koushik has reported on high-profile events including the FIFA U17 World Cup 2017, Ranji Trophy, FIH Pro League, FIH World League finals, the Indian Premier League, and Lionel Messi’s historic visit to Kolkata in 2025. <br><br> While he possesses a versatile command over all sports, he finds his niche in cricket, specializing in breaking news, long-form interviews, global sporting updates, and high-energy live blogs. Koushik’s professional perspective was further sharpened through the 2020 AIPS Young Reporters Programme, where he gained invaluable insights from renowned international journalists, including Keir Radnedge and Riccardo Romani from the United Kingdom, and Martin Mazur from Argentina. Currently based between Kolkata and Delhi, Koushik remains at the forefront of the breaking developments that shape the public sporting discourse. When he isn't tracking scores or deconstructing plays, he can be found exploring new landscapes on his travels or channeling his creative energy into the kitchen. <br><br> If you have a compelling story to share or know an individual who deserves the spotlight, please reach out via email at <a href="koushik.paul@htdigital.in">koushik.paul@htdigital.in</a>.
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