Muhammad Shami And captain of Lucknow Supergiants Rishabh Pant shared a heartwarming moment during net practice ahead of the IPL 2026 clash against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, which has gone viral on social media.LSG went into the contest with renewed confidence after registering their first win of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad, bouncing back from their opening defeat against Delhi Capitals. Shami and Pant both played key roles in the win, making an impact with both ball and bat.During a practice session, Pant was seen hitting the ball cleanly, sending several shots into the stands. However, after missing a delivery, Shami sarcastically remarked, “Behar nikkar le yakta” (you could have gone out and hit him).Pant replied in his usual confident manner, saying, “Lipa to man har bal ghamma donga” (I can swing hard at every ball).Shami’s support won heartsWhat followed was a wholesome moment that caught the attention of fans. In a supportive tone, Shami told Pant: “You are our lion, do anything… We will not let you down, no matter what you do.”(You are our lion, do whatever you want… We will not let you down, no matter what.)The exchange reflected the strong camaraderie within the LSG camp, highlighting the shared confidence and motivation between the senior players and the captain.
Match Preview – KKR vs LSG
Kolkata Knight Riders, struggling for form and ideas, can make big changes as they chase their first win of the confident IPL 2026 against Lucknow Supergiants at the Eden Gardens. Much of the focus will be on Mohammad Shami, who has been having a brilliant spell and can take advantage of KKR’s fragile top order in helpful situations.KKR’s batting has been inconsistent, with their opening pair failing to deliver, while their bowling unit has also failed to make an impact. In contrast, LSG’s strength lies in their balanced attack, including Shami and a strong supporting cast, which has dominated the power play this season.LSG also gained momentum with Rishabh Pant’s recent unbeaten 68 and a solid top order featuring Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. All in all, this is a clash between a struggling KKR side and a confident, in-form LSG unit.
