Rishabh Pant’s Shocking Slide: Batting at No. 7 and Golden Duck Spell Disaster for DC in IPL 2025
In a jaw-dropping twist during the IPL 2025 season, Delhi Capitals’ star wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant faced an unprecedented low in his career. During a high-stakes encounter against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, Pant walked out to bat at the unfamiliar position of No. 7—a slot he hadn’t occupied in his last 113 IPL innings. This tactical gamble by the DC think tank backfired spectacularly, leaving fans and analysts stunned.
This wasn’t just a rare demotion for the explosive southpaw; it marked only the third instance in his illustrious IPL career where he batted so low in the order. The previous two occasions date back to his debut season in 2016, when he was still carving out his niche in the league. Fast forward to 2025, and Pant’s current form paints a grim picture. With just 106 runs in 9 matches at a dismal average of 13.25, the DC skipper is far from the destructive force that once terrorized bowlers with his fearless strokeplay.
Against LSG, the experiment of pushing Pant down the order yielded no fruit. Facing a fiery Mukesh Kumar, Pant was dismissed for a golden duck—bowled by a searing delivery that uprooted his stumps on the very first ball. This humiliating exit added to Delhi’s woes as they struggled to post a competitive total, eventually finishing at 159 for 6 in their 20 overs. Mukesh Kumar emerged as the wrecker-in-chief for LSG, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 34 in his 4-over spell. His scalps included not just Pant but also key DC batsmen like Mitchell Marsh and Abdul Samad, effectively derailing the Capitals’ momentum.
Pant’s ongoing struggles have sparked debates about his role and form in the tournament. Once hailed as one of the most devastating finishers in T20 cricket—with a career IPL strike rate hovering around 148 and over 3,200 runs in the league—his current slump is a stark contrast to his peak performances. Is this a tactical misstep by the DC management, or is Pant grappling with deeper issues in his game post his remarkable recovery from a life-threatening car accident in December 2022? Fans are desperate for answers as DC fights to keep their playoff hopes alive in a fiercely competitive season.
As the IPL 2025 caravan rolls on, all eyes will be on Rishabh Pant to rediscover his mojo and lead Delhi Capitals from the front. For now, this shocking demotion and golden duck serve as a bitter reminder of how even the brightest stars can face unexpected eclipses. Can Pant turn the tide and reclaim his spot as DC’s game-changer? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain—this chapter in his career will be discussed for seasons to come.