“This is not turbulence, this is a crash now”

Former India batter Manoj Tiwary opined that the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) are in a full-blown crisis after recording their fourth consecutive loss in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026. The Rishabh Pant-led side slumped to a 40-run loss while chasing 160 runs against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Ekana Stadium, on Wednesday, April 22.

LSG had a wobbly start to the season with a home loss against the Delhi Capitals (DC), but had seemingly found some momentum with successive away wins over the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). However, since then, the franchise has been in a complete downward spiral.

LSG made a mess of the run chase on home turf after being reduced to 11-3 in the third over. Mitchell Marsh was the sole batter who crossed the 25-run mark as they ended being bowled out for just 119.

With each defeat being worse than the last in some way, shape, or form, Manoj Tiwary declared that LSG are in shambles and called for more clarity in the decision-making and stability to salvage the season.

“When you make so many changes right after the first game, it becomes clear what thinking you are going in with. If the top-three overseas players that worked for you last year, don’t take up responsibility, and don’t step up to win you a couple of games, then this is the state you end up in. So much shuffling is not right, you want stability in the playing XI,” Manoj Tiwary said on Cricbuzz.

“There should be clarity in the decision-making, and today was a golden opportunity to get back to winning ways. You don’t get to chase these kinds of totals in the IPL this season. Even Himmat Singh had such a good chance, after so many years, LSG and Pant gave you an opportunity, but he did not make the most of that opportunity. This is not turbulence, this is a crash now, and no one was saved,” he added.

This marks the second time in LSG’s history that they have lost four matches in a row in the IPL. The previous instance also came under Rishabh Pant’s captaincy in 2025, where they lost four matches in a row against DC, MI, PBKS, and SRH in the second half of the season.

“It is difficult to explain” – LSG captain Rishabh Pant on losing run in IPL 2026 after match against RR

LSG captain Rishabh Pant pinned the blame on the recent losses to the batting department, and expressed the need to look for answers within themselves. He also shed light on the batting approach considering the target was not a steep one.

“It is difficult to explain. Definitely our batting is letting us down. We are disappointed as a group but at the same time you have got to keep fighting, look for answers inside and not outside. That is how it is as of now. We could have taken a lot more time with the bat including myself, not making any excuses but as a batting group we need to put our hands up and finish the job for our bowlers,” Rishabh Pant said during the post-match presentation.

LSG will be on the lookout to avoid a fifth-straight loss for the first time in their history as they host KKR next on Sunday, April 26.