Mohammad Shami and captain of Lucknow Supergiants. Ritha Pant Sharing a heartwarming moment during a net practice ahead of the IPL 2026 match against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, the video went viral on social media.LSG enter the match with renewed confidence after registering their first win of the season against Sunrisers Hyderabad, having bounced back strongly from their opening loss to Delhi Capitals. Both Shami and Pant played key roles in the win, showing their impact with the ball and bat.During a practice session, Pant was seen hitting the ball cleanly, sending the ball into the stands multiple times. However, after missing a delivery, Shami cheekily said: “Bahar nikal kar le sakta” (You could have walked out and hit it).Pant responded in his usual confident style, saying: “Lappa to main har ball par ghuma dunga” (I can swing hard on every ball).Shami’s support wins heartsWhat followed was a wholesome moment that caught the attention of fans. In a supportive tone, Shami told Pant: “Tu hamara sher hai, tu bhi kuch bhi do… hum tujhe neche nahi ginne denge, chahe tu bhi kuch bhi do.”(You are our lion, do what you want…we won’t let you fall, no matter what.)This exchange reflects the deep friendship within the LSG camp and highlights the trust and encouragement between senior players and captains.
Match Preview- KKR vs LSG
Kolkata Knight Riders, who are struggling with form and philosophy, are likely to make major changes as they battle for their first win of IPL 2026 against a confident Lucknow Supergiants at the Eden Gardens. A lot of attention will be paid to Mohammed Shami, who has just come off a brilliant spell and can take advantage of KKR’s fragile top order in favorable conditions.KKR’s batting was inconsistent, their opening combination failed to perform as well as it could and their bowling unit also lacked impact. In contrast, LSG’s strength lies in their balanced attack, including Shami and a strong supporting cast, which have dominated the powerplay this season.LSG also keep the momentum going with Rishabh Pant’s recent unbeaten 68 and a solid top order from Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram. Overall, it was a clash between a struggling KKR side and a confident, in-form LSG side.
