Lucknow Super Giants’ high-profile acquisition Rishabh Pant continues to face mounting criticism as his batting form remains a concern in IPL 2025. After spending a record-breaking Rs 27 crore to make him the most expensive player in IPL history, LSG finds themselves with just one win from four matches, while their captain’s bat has remained surprisingly quiet.
The Numbers Tell A Story
The stats make for difficult reading – Pant has scored just 17 runs across four matches, with a disappointing dismissal for a duck against Delhi Capitals being his latest setback. His performance against the Punjab Kings was particularly concerning, scoring only 2 runs off 5 balls in a manner that former player Piyush Chawla described as “particularly disappointing.”
“It was a ball that could have been put away anywhere, yet he found the fielder at short fine leg,” Chawla noted on JioStar. “His reaction afterward, that knowing smile, suggested he is aware he’s going through a rough patch where things just aren’t going his way.”
Zaheer Khan Stands By His Captain
Despite the poor returns, LSG mentor Zaheer Khan has publicly backed his skipper when questioned about Pant’s form following their defeat to Punjab Kings.
“We always have to find a way, as he is our captain. Everyone has expectations from him, and I believe the way he has done well as a captain, he will also contribute as a player,” Zaheer said in the post-match press conference.
The former India pacer appears more concerned with the pitch conditions at LSG’s home ground, suggesting it resembled a “Punjab curator out here” rather than providing home advantage. His focus on creating a “process-oriented setup” indicates he’s looking at the bigger picture beyond immediate results.
Weight Of Expectations
The pressure on Pant extends beyond just the price tag. After returning from a serious car accident in December 2022 that kept him out of cricket for over a year, expectations were high for his comeback season. Additionally, he’s been out of India’s white-ball setup recently, making this IPL crucial for his international prospects.
Before LSG’s match against Mumbai Indians, Pant himself acknowledged his struggles: “A few of our players haven’t come off, including me.” His subsequent dismissal for just 2 runs against MI only intensified scrutiny.
The 27-year-old’s situation raises questions about whether the burden of captaincy, combined with the pressure of living up to his record price tag, might be hampering his natural attacking style. As LSG approaches the middle stages of the tournament, they’ll need their captain to rediscover his explosive batting form if they hope to challenge for a playoff spot.
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