Mitchell Marsh after LSG beat CSK in IPL 2026
Luckily: Mitchell Marsh lauded his team’s collective effort after playing a match-winning knock of 90 to propel Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a seven-wicket victory over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match played in Lucknow on Saturday evening.
Marsh, who was adjudged Player of the Match, said the win was a much-needed boost for the team in the stop-start season: “It’s nice to get a few wins in for us this season. We’ve stuck together as a team and it’s nice to get an award tonight,” Marsh said at the post-match presentation.
He also underlined the positive atmosphere in the team, especially the contribution of young players.
“There are great people in this group, great kids.” The Australian all-rounder also spoke about his opening partnership with compatriot Josh Inglis, saying their understanding helped ease the pressure during the chase.
“I feel like it’s taking the pressure off me. We grew up playing together in Western Australia, we know each other well and it was a good partnership tonight.” Talking about the nature of the pitch and the batting conditions, Marsh said the early stages were tough but once the batsmen got used to it, it became easier.”
“The first 2-3 overs can be tough and at the start of the tournament we were two or three down and couldn’t break through. Once you get going it’s a good wicket. It reminds me a bit of Perth Stadium.”
Reacting to his dismissal, he added: “Cricket is a funny game, isn’t it?” Marsh said he was enjoying contributing more with his increased involvement on the field this season, and also touched on Inglis’ injury. He had a bit of bad luck in the summer. Inglis had hurt his finger a few days before, so he rightly took over and I enjoy being out there with the lads – it’s always great fun,” Marsh added.
Meanwhile, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant said that the team’s collective effort and clarity in roles played an important role in their seven-wicket win against CSK.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Pant said that the win was important for the morale of the team and reflected the determination of the group despite the difficult season. “It feels good. It definitely feels good to get a win. The things we talked about, having a lot to play for no matter how the season ends, we take a lot of pride,” Pant said. He also praised pacer Akash Singh for his disciplined performance and ability to execute plans consistently. “He’s been working hard. Sometimes it’s harder to give everyone a play. He’s a guy who sticks to the plan more often and it’s really nice to see it definitely pays off,” he added.
Pant also explained his tactical decision to send Josh Inglis and another overseas batsman up the order, with Nicholas Pooran batting at number three, highlighting the team’s flexible approach. “That was our first thought; Nicky (Pooran) was to open two overseas with three innings. Four fast bowlers are working for us,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of keeping things simple in a high-pressure environment.
“The team we have is so amazing that the only thing that can hurt us is having too many thought processes,” Pant said.
Reflecting on his own role, Pant added that although he was ready to bat, he respected the team’s strategy.
“I was ready to bat (tonight). But I came up with an idea why not try players who haven’t played much. I still wanted to be there but sometimes you have to respect some things,” he said. LSG chased the target of 188 runs with 20 balls to spare. The chase was boosted by a sensational 38-ball 90 from Marsh, who shared a 135-run opening stand with Josh Inglis and set the platform for a commanding follow-up.
Inglis added a quick 36, while Nicholas Pooran remained unbeaten on 32 off 17 balls to secure victory. Earlier, CSK posted a score of 187/5 with a 71-run knock from Kartik Sharma and a late flourish from Shivam Dube after recovering from early innings from LSG pacer Akash Singh, who took three wickets. Despite CSK’s brief resistance in the middle overs, LSG’s explosive start ensured a comfortable chase, helping them secure a convincing victory on home soil.
