Lucknow Super Giants’ IPL 2025 campaign took another blow as their captain, Rishabh Pant, continued his dismal form during the game against Punjab Kings on Sunday. Rishabh Pant, who was promoted to No. 4 in the batting order, failed to make an impact, scoring just 18 runs off 17 balls. His dismissal in a bizarre fashion left fans and team officials disappointed, as the team lost by 37 runs, severely damaging their chances of making the playoffs.
Rishabh Pant’s latest failure came when he attempted to loft a delivery from Azmatullah Omarzai during the eighth over of the chase. However, in a comical turn of events, he lost his grip on the bat, which flew towards the square-leg region. Meanwhile, the ball was caught by Shashank Singh at sweeper cover. Pant walked off the field, visibly frustrated and muttering to himself, expressing his disappointment with his own performance. His body language reflected the growing frustration, not just for him, but for his team and supporters as well.
Sanjiv Goenka, the owner of Lucknow Super Giants, was also seen with a resigned look on his face after Rishabh Pant’s dismissal. Goenka, who has been present at every game this season, seemed equally dejected when Nicholas Pooran was dismissed cheaply during the powerplay. It is clear that the team’s struggles are taking a toll on the management, with playoff hopes fading fast.
Rishabh Pant, who was bought for a record INR 27 crore during the IPL 2025 auction, has been under immense pressure to perform. However, his performances this season have fallen well short of expectations. With just 128 runs in 11 matches and a strike rate of 99.22, Rishabh Pant’s form has been the worst of his IPL career. His struggles with the bat have left fans frustrated, many of whom are now calling for his removal from the leadership role.
As Lucknow’s playoff hopes hang by a thread, the pressure on Rishabh Pant and the team continues to mount. With their next game scheduled against Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 9, the Super Giants will need to regroup and deliver a much-improved performance if they are to keep their hopes alive.
