Lucknow Super Giants pulled off a heart-stopping last-ball victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, but the thrilling win was overshadowed by a critical assessment of their captain, Rishabh Pant. While debutant Mukul Choudhary starred in the chase, former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif turned the spotlight on Pant's leadership and form, urging the skipper to take greater responsibility in crunch situations.

Pant endured a difficult outing, scoring just 10 runs as LSG's top order faltered. His season has been a rollercoaster of inconsistency, with two low scores bookending a solitary half-century. Speaking on Star Sports, Kaif didn't mince words, emphasizing that an experienced campaigner like Pant, who has been in the IPL since 2016, must be the anchor in a chase. "The team needed him to stay till the end," Kaif stated, pointing out that Pant entered when the situation was manageable at 41/0 after five overs.

Kaif's critique went beyond just batting, touching on the core of captaincy. He stressed that a leader must set the example, especially when the pressure is on. "As captain, if you don’t take responsibility, you cannot help your team win games," he said, acknowledging Pant's good knock against SRH but demanding more consistency. The former India batter advised Pant to improve his game awareness, better read match situations, and focus on building an innings to guide his team home.

Ultimately, LSG's dramatic three-wicket win showcased their fighting spirit, but Kaif's comments highlight a crucial narrative for the team's campaign: for Lucknow to be genuine title contenders, they need their captain and star player, Rishabh Pant, to lead from the front and finish what he starts.