Arjun Tendulkar debuts for LSG. (PTI Photo)

IPL 2026: Rishabh Pant apologises to fans, Arjun Tendulkar debuts for LSG

IPL 2026, LSG vs PBKS: 26-year-old Arjun Tendulkar has been handed his debut in LSG colours, in the team's final match of the season. Tendulkar was traded to LSG ahead of this season on a straight cash deal.

23 May 2026, 13:51 by India Today Sports Desk · India Today

In Short

Lucknow Super Giants play their final IPL 2026 game vs Punjab Kings
Rishabh Pant apologises to the fans for yet another poor season
Arjun Tendulkar is given his LSG debut in the final league stage game

Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant apologised to the franchise's fans ahead of their final game of the Indian Premier League 2026 season on Sunday, May 24. LSG, who once again endured a difficult campaign in the tournament, are languishing at the bottom of the points table with just four wins in 13 matches.

Speaking at the toss before their clash against Punjab Kings at the Ekana Stadium, Pant admitted that the season had been tough on both the players and the supporters. The wicketkeeper-batter thanked fans from across Uttar Pradesh for continuing to back the side despite their struggles and promised that the team would return stronger next season.

"See, everyone knows it has been a tough season for us. But there has been a lot of learning for us as a team and as individuals. We just want to say sorry to our fans. They have been coming in large numbers to support us from different parts of the country, especially from all over UP. It's been tough for us. We want to come back stronger and we are going to give our 100 per cent," Pant said at the toss.

LSG vs PBKS, IPL 2026: UPDATES | SCORECARD

Pant also revealed two changes to the LSG playing XI for their final game of the season, including the much-anticipated debut of Arjun Tendulkar, son of Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar.

"We have two changes. Arjun and Arshin come in since Mitch went home," Pant added.

Arjun, who was traded from Mumbai Indians for Rs 30 lakh ahead of IPL 2026, had spent the first 13 matches of the season on the bench before finally getting an opportunity in the final game of the campaign.

The left-arm pacer has long remained a subject of curiosity among fans because of his famous surname, but opportunities at the IPL level have remained limited over the years. With LSG already eliminated from the playoffs race, the franchise finally decided to hand the legendary surname Tendulkar a chance on the big stage.

RISHABH PANT'S APOLOGY

Rishabh Pant's apology came at the end of what has been a deeply confusing season for Lucknow Super Giants. A visibly frustrated Pant had hinted multiple times through his on-field interviews that there were perhaps too many voices involved in taking key decisions within the team setup.

Several of LSG's tactical calls raised eyebrows through the course of the season, starting with the decision to break up the successful opening pair of Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram early in the campaign. Beyond the opening combination, LSG also struggled to provide Pant himself with a fixed batting role, something that consistently dented the team's balance and output.

Pant, however, was not free from criticism either. The captain often made questionable bowling changes during crunch moments in games. On several occasions, Pant delayed the use of his spinners despite favourable conditions and ended up saving overs for the death, by when the game had already drifted away from LSG.

Those issues, combined with injuries, inconsistent batting performances and a lack of clarity in team selection, eventually contributed to the franchise's downfall in IPL 2026. Lucknow ended up becoming one of the first teams to be knocked out of the playoffs race this season.

LSG PLAYING XI vs PUNJAB KINGS

Rishabh Pant might not have been accurate while mentioning the changes that the team had made in their line-up. Apart from Arjun Tendulkar and Arshin Kulkarni, Mukul Choudhary and Mohammed Shami made their return to the team's line-up.

Arjun, who is a pace-bowling all-rounder by trade, is expected to play the role of the lower-order batter. He replaced Mayank Yadav in the team.

Arjun with be bowling alongside Mohammed Shami, Prince Yadav, and Mohsin Khan, who have been good with the ball this season.

LSG's Team vs PBKS

Josh Inglis, Arshin Kulkarni (In place of Mitchell Marsh), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, Rishabh Pant (c/wk), Abdul Samad, Mukul Choudhary (In place of Shahbaz Ahamad), Arjun Tendulkar (In place of Mayank Yadav and On LSG debut), Mohammad Shami (In place of Akash Singh), Prince Yadav and Mohsin Khan.

- Ends