Hyderabad, April 5 Rishabh Pant prefers to let his performances speak for themselves, a philosophy that once again came to the fore as he led the Lucknow Super Giants to a tense five-wicket victory over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL here on Sunday.
Amid criticism of his T20 batting approach, Pant asserted that recognition from within the team is far more important than external opinions.
"I know I'm preparing well. I want my batting to do the talking. My colleagues and the management see how hard I work, and that's what matters. I just don't want to talk about that," Pant said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Pant anchored the chase with a composed 68 not out off 50 balls, which included nine fours, as LSG chased down a target of 157 with one ball to spare, capping a tense finish at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Speaking about his own form, Pant maintained that his preparation has been consistent, and that he remains committed to contributing fully.
"You know, when things go well, everything goes well. We always say that, but at the same time, I've been preparing really well and giving my full commitment."
Reflecting on the win, Pant said that finishing games under pressure adds immense value to the team's confidence.
"Definitely, it's a big plus. When you can achieve this in the final over and win the game, that's definitely a good thing for us," he said.
He emphasised that the bowling unit laid the foundation for the victory with disciplined efforts upfront.
"I think with the bowlers, you have to appreciate and support them because they are the ones who set the stage for the game, especially when we're batting first."
Pant noted that multiple bowlers stepped up and executed their roles effectively under pressure.
"I think (Mohammed) Shami Bhai, Avesh (Khan), (Digvesh) Rathi, I think everyone has contributed really well, especially (Manimaran) Siddharth, who played today.
"We decided that he would be the key player, and he did really well for us."
On team discussions and leadership approach, Pant underlined the need for balance between criticism and appreciation within the group.
"We feel that there's never a perfect match. As a management, we need to be critical, but at the same time, we need to appreciate what's happening within the team."
He stressed the importance of execution over individual heroics.
"I think the only thing that matters is executing the plan, rather than feeling that I can do everything. Trust your preparation and focus on the game."
Pant added that learning remains an ongoing process for the side as it looks to improve with each outing.
"You know, when we slack off, like I said before, we need to be critical, but at the same time, we are looking to learn as a team and get better with every match."