Follow UsNo team seems to have a clear home advantage in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) succumbed to a massive defeat against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on April 1 (Tuesday).
Traditionally known for its slow wickets, the Ekana Stadium showed no such signs, as PBKS went on to register an eight-wicket win with 22 balls to spare, chasing 172. LSG mentor Zaheer Khan did not mince his words as he slammed the pitch curator, even going to the extent of saying that it was the work of a "Punjab curator."
"What was a little disappointing for me here, considering it's a home game..."Zaheer said.
"In IPL, you've seen how teams have looked at taking a little bit of home advantage, you know, so yeah, from that point of view, you've seen the curator is not really thinking that it's a home game, you know. I think maybe it looked like, you know, it was Punjab curator out here.
"That's something which we'll figure out. It's a new setup for me also here. But I hope that this is the first and the last game when it comes to that, because you are disappointing the Lucknow fans as well. They've come up with so much expectations of winning the first home game here.
"As a team, we are confident, you know, we accept that we've lost the game, and we're going to do whatever it takes to make that impact in the home leg. We still have six more games to go here."
Did Zaheer and skipper Rishabh Pant misread the pitch ahead of the game? "See, we will go by what the curator says, no?," Zaheer said.
"Not looking at it as an excuse. We have seen last season also, it's not that batters haven't had issues here and bowlers haven't been on a roll. Those things happen in cricket. But in terms of support for the home team, everyone must be aware that this is our team that's playing in Lucknow and what we can do to ensure a victory. Everyone's contribution is necessary. That said, we will find a way to win."
Zaheer admitted Punjab outplayed LSG but added that it was disappointing to lose their first home game of the season, and also, the pitches prepared are not meeting the requirements of the team. "See, that's the nature of IPL, isn't it," Zaheer said.
"You will be on the go, you'll be playing home games, away games. It was the first home game for us for this season, so yes, there were a lot of expectations and hopes. Punjab did outplay us, that's how the game goes.
"This team has shown in the season so far, whatever little cricket is played, that we have the right outlook and the mindset to look at IPL, to look at the games. What you can expect is innovation, out-of-the-box thinking, the fight, and hunger. And I think, you know, that sums up, you know, that sums up a team.
"And I think, you know, that's something which we want to give it to the fans. We want to give it to the loyalists of Lucknow Super Giants. So that's how we are looking at things."
LSG will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 4 (Friday), once again in Lucknow.