IPL 2026 [WATCH]: Rishabh Pant plucks a screamer out of thin air to remove Yashasvi Jaiswal in LSG vs RR encounter

The Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow witnessed a masterclass in athleticism and pace bowling during the 32nd match of IPL 2026 on Wednesday. As the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) hosted the Rajasthan Royals (RR), the atmosphere was electric, but it was one moment of pure brilliance from LSG skipper Rishabh Pant that stole the headlines. After winning the toss and electing to field, LSG’s bowling unit, led by a revitalized Mohammed Shami, looked to exploit the early evening moisture, setting the stage for a dramatic opening powerplay.

Rishabh Pant defies gravity with a spectacular grab to dismiss Yashasvi Jaiswal

The breakthrough came in the 3rd over, and it was a sequence of play that will be replayed on highlight reels for years to come. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had looked dangerous with a quick-fire 22 off 12 balls (including four boundaries), was undone by a ‘snorter’ from Shami. Delivering at 141 clicks, Shami sent down a sharp, climbing delivery that zipped over the leg stump.

Jaiswal attempted a swivel hook, getting his shoulders across to manage the bounce. However, the sheer pace and extra lift forced a hurried contact. The ball brushed the glove and seemed destined to fly over the keeper’s head. In a display of feline reflexes, Pant launched himself vertically, defying gravity to pluck the ball out of the air with the tip of his right hand. The catch was so improbable that even Jaiswal stood frozen for a second before trudging back to the pavilion. Shami’s figures immediately reflected the impact, leaving RR at 32/1 after 2.5 overs and signalling the start of a hostile spell.

Here’s the video:

✌️ in ✌️

Mohd. Shami on a roll in Lucknow 😎

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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 22, 2026

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The dismissal of Jaiswal triggered a catastrophic domino effect for the Rajasthan Royals. On the very next ball (2.6 ov), Shami struck again, removing the promoted Dhruv Jurel for a golden duck with a catch again safely nestled in Pant’s gloves. The misery continued in the following over when Mohsin Khan induced a mistake from the young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who was caught by Rathi after a sluggish 8 runs off 11 balls.

By the time the Strategic Timeout was called at the end of the 7th over, the Royals were reeling at 54/3. Despite the early carnage, Riyan Parag (15*) and Shimron Hetmyer (5*) managed to steady the ship slightly, pushing the run rate to 7.71. However, the damage done during the mandatory powerplay, where RR managed only 44 runs for the loss of 3 wickets, has firmly placed LSG in the driver’s seat. With Shami returning figures of 2/24 in his first three overs and Mayank Yadav yet to fully unleash his pace, the Royals face a steep uphill battle to reach their projected score of 175.

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