LUCKNOW, May 7 -- Three defeats in the last three matches have landed the Lucknow Super Giants in a spot of bother in the current Indian Premier League season, impacting their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs. Even if the Rishabh Pant-led side win their last three league games, including two on home turf, their chances of making it to the playoffs are slim. With 10 points in 11 matches so far, LSG are currently placed seventh in the points table. If they win their remaining three matches, their points tally will go up to 16. But much will depend on the results produced by other teams. Five teams -- Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans, and Delhi Capitals - are very close to making it to the playoffs. LSG will host table toppers RCB in their penultimate home game in Lucknow on Friday before locking horns with Gujarat Titans at Ahmedabad on May 14. The Pant-led side will play their last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on home ground on May 18. LSG's net run rate is the worst among the seven teams that remain in contention for the playoffs. LSG finished third in their first two seasons in the IPL in 2022 and 2023. They were placed seventh in 2024, winning only half of their matches out of 14 in the league phase. This season, LSG could have done well after winning three matches on the trot, including victories against Mumbai Indians (by 12 runs), KKR (by 4 runs) and against Gujarat Giants (by 6 wkts). This was followed by a five-wicket loss to five-time champions Chennai Super Kings on home turf and a thrilling two-run win against Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur. Their poor form began with an eight-wicket loss to Delhi Capitals in New Delhi followed by consecutive losses to Mumbai Indians by 54 runs and Punjab Kings by 37 runs. Skipper Pant's form with the bat was disappointing as he scored just 128 runs in 11 matches at an average of 12.80. Pacer Mayank Yadav too failed to impress, especially in the match against PBKS. He has conceded 100 runs off the 48 deliveries he has bowled so far this season at an average of 50.00. In his four overs, Mayank was struck for 60 runs, including six sixes and three boundaries as PBKS posted 236/5 in the last match. In reply, LSG, after losing four quick wickets for 58, managed to reach 199/7 with Delhi-boy Ayush Badoni hitting a 40-ball 74 with the help of five boundaries and an equal number of sixes. Even after losing to PBKS on Sunday, Pant expressed hope of a good show in the remaining matches. "The dream is still alive. If we can win the next three matches, we can definitely turn around and do amazing things," Pant said at the post-match presentation. "Definitely too many runs. When you drop crucial catches at the wrong time, it can hurt you badly. We thought it would do more, but we did not pick the length right at the start. But that is part and parcel of the game," Pant added....