Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) thrashed Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by five wickets on Wednesday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
LSG only managed to score 146 in their allotted 20 overs due to a masterclass from Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the power play.
Pant had retired hurt on a duck and later returned to bat, but managed only one run off six balls before Bhuvneshwar Kumar accounted for his wicket.
Apart from his unbeaten 68 against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Pant had struggled for consistency, with scores of 7, 10, 18 and 1 in the ongoing IPL 2026.
Chasing a modest 147, RCB got home with nearly five overs to spare to go top of the table. Virat Kohli, who came in as an Impact Player, scored the most (49, 34b, 6×4, 1×6), but it was captain Rajat Patidar’s two breath-taking sixes off Mohammed Shami – over long-on and above fine-leg – that will remain long in memory.
Brief Scores:
Lucknow Super Giants: 146 all out in 20 overs (Mitchell Marsh 40, Ayush Badoni 38; Rasikh Salam Dar 4/24, Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3/27, Krunal Pandya 2/38).
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: 149 for 5 in 15.1 overs (Virat Kohli 49; Prince Yadav 3/32).
