The failure of Rishabh Pant to break his batting stalemate in the Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) IPL 2025 matchup against the Punjab Kings (PBKS) has disappointed former India star Aakash Chopra. He pointed out that at short fine leg, the LSG captain struck Yuzendra Chahal in the throat with a harmless delivery from Glenn Maxwell.
On Tuesday, April 1, in Match 13 of the IPL 2025 in Lucknow, PBKS held LSG to 171/7 with just two runs off five deliveries from Pant. The visitors then won two straight games to begin their campaign in the 18th edition of the Indian Premier League after reaching the goal with eight wickets and 22 deliveries remaining.
In a video posted to his YouTube account, “Aakash Chopra,” the former India opener reflected on LSG’s batting, pointing out that Pant’s slender run with the bat persisted after he was hit by a subpar pitch.
“Abdul Samad, Ayush Badnoi and Nicholas Pooran played decently, and Aiden Markram also played decently for some time, but the runs didn’t come from Rishabh Pant’s bat once again. It was an ordinary ball. It was a half-tracker. He pulled it and the catch went to Yuzi Chahal’s hands behind the wickets.”
Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra commended Nicholas Pooran for playing a responsible knock, but said that Aiden Markram provided LSG a respectable start.
“Aiden Markram was batting well. He played a few good shots, but then he also got out. After that, Nicholas Pooran is the lone guy. Let’s be honest, he is carrying the entire team on his shoulders. He is in that kind of form. The Orange Cap is on his head, and he is batting that well too. He played with an excellent mix of aggression and caution.”
Aakash Chopra
versus four fours and a six, Markram amassed 28 runs off 18 deliveries in LSG’s IPL 2025 matchup versus PBKS. With five fours and two maximums, Pooran hammered 44 runs off 30 balls.
Aakash Chopra Explains Chahal’s Mastery in Dismissing Pooran in PBKS Win
Aakash Chopra commended Yuzendra Chahal in the same video for ensnaring Nicholas Pooran in his ruse during the Punjab Kings’ IPL 2025 matchup with the Lucknow Super Giants.
“He (Pooran) fell prey to Yuzi Chahal in the end. It’s an attribute of Yuzi Chahal that he doesn’t bowl the ball in one line. He either bowls very wide or towards the legs. He is a maverick. He is a magician. It seems like a string is tied to the ball, that it would go in or out with a string. The ball becomes like a puppet.”
Aakash Chopra
The cricketer-turned-commentator praised Ayush Badnoi (41 off 33) and Abdul Samad (27 off 12) for their respectable efforts, but pointed out that LSG was limited to a subpar score.
“Ayush Badnoi batted well for sure. He hit one or two excellent shots over cover. I think he hit Lockie Ferguson over cover, that was beautiful. Abdul Samad also hit a few sixes, but the runs weren’t enough.”
Aakash Chopra
Arshdeep Singh (3/43) was commended by Aakash Chopra for taking three wickets and dismissed Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck in the opening over. Additionally, he praised Shreyas Iyer’s leadership, emphasizing how the PBKS captain appropriately rotated his bowlers.
