There was a huge moment of jubilation when the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) completed the signing of Rishabh Pant at the IPL 2025 mega auction. In doing so, they became the franchise to sign the costliest player ever in franchise cricket history and the hope for a better IPL 2025 set in.
Poor Rishabh Pant’s outings at IPL 2025
Unfortunately, things haven’t been rosy, at least not for the new LSG captain. Pant, who’s considered the present and future of Indian cricket, doesn’t rank among the top 50 highest run-getters at IPL 2025 so far. That’s hugely worrying. LSG have only relied on their top-order, with Pant making a mere 110 runs at an a horrible average of 12.22 and at a strike rate of even under 99. Thankfully for LSG, the likes of Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh are having productive campaigns, otherwise it would’ve been very bleak for them.
Zaheer Khans bats for Pant
Lucknow Super Giants suffered a crushing 54-run defeat at the hands of Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium. Captain Rishabh Pant struggled again at the crease, scoring just four runs.
Despite criticism, LSG mentor Zaheer Khan backed Pant, saying the tag of being the most expensive player hasn’t impacted him. Khan praised Pant’s captaincy decisions and expressed confidence in his batting abilities, predicting he’ll bounce back with a big score soon. Pant’s been under scrutiny, with only one fifty this season, but Khan’s vote of confidence could be just what he needs to turn things around.
“I wouldn’t relate it to anything like that (Rs 27 crore tag). He is a leader and he has been fantastic as a leader, that’s something which I can vouch for,” Zaheer said in the post-match press conference on April 27. “The kind of efforts he has been taking to make sure that each and every individual in that group is comfortable, is heard (out) and the planning to everything which goes around in IPL has been spot on. “As a leader, he is ticking all the boxes. As a batter, the middle-order is dependent on Rishabh and I am very confident that the impact which we want from him will come. It’s just about something clicking.”
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