Lucknow Pitch Under Fire as LSG Slumps to Defeat

Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) mentor Zaheer Khan didn’t mince words after an eight-wicket loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS), slamming the home pitch as one that seemed crafted by a “Punjab curator.” Chasing 172 on a tricky surface with grip and uneven bounce, PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh’s 34-ball 69 sealed a convincing win, leaving LSG at sixth place with one victory in three games and a negative net run rate. Khan lamented the lack of home advantage, a staple in the IPL, saying it let down fans expecting a strong showing in Lucknow’s first home match.

Despite the defeat, Khan emphasized a process-driven approach over a fixation on results. “It’s early in the season our third game and we’re focused on building a solid framework, not just chasing wins,” he said at the post-match press conference. He acknowledged Punjab’s dominance but remained optimistic, vowing to address the pitch issues with six home games left. “We’ll take the positives, work on the weaknesses, and give our fans something to cheer for,” added the former Indian pacer.

Khan also downplayed injury concerns, highlighting LSG’s bowling prowess as a bright spot. “We’ve taken 18 wickets in our first two games, the highest in the tournament,” he noted. “Even with setbacks, we’ve shown innovation and hunger. That’s the mindset we want to bring to our loyal Lucknow Super Giants supporters.”