The Rs 27 crore price tag on star wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant continues to loom large over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as they struggle in the IPL 2025 season. With two losses in their first three matches, LSG find themselves under scrutiny, and Pant’s performances have been a focal point of concern.
Currently sitting sixth on the points table with just two points from three games, LSG’s campaign has been marred by Pant’s dismal batting figures. Against Delhi Capitals, he scored a duck; against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he managed only 15 runs; and against Punjab Kings, he was dismissed for just 2 runs. These poor performances have placed immense pressure on the LSG captain, both as a batsman and as a leader.
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has voiced his concerns over Pant’s form, labeling it a ‘huge shock’ for the LSG team. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Harbhajan emphasized the need for LSG to address Pant’s early dismissals urgently. ‘Rishabh Pant hasn’t been able to contribute much. His bat has been silent, and they need to find a way to stop him from getting out early. He has been a big shock for the team,’ he stated.
In their latest match against Punjab Kings, LSG’s batting lineup struggled, with only Nicholas Pooran (44) and Ayush Badoni (41) making significant contributions. Despite their efforts, LSG were restricted to 171/7, largely due to a three-wicket spell by Arshdeep Singh. Punjab Kings chased down the target comfortably in just 16.2 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh, marking their second consecutive victory in the tournament.
Reflecting on the match, Harbhajan Singh noted, ‘LSG got stuck. After losing the toss, they didn’t score many runs and disappointed themselves. Nicholas Pooran played brilliantly, but he was trapped by Yuzvendra Chahal. When Pooran got out, LSG’s back was pretty much broken. Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad provided some fireworks towards the end and got them to a total that was worth fighting for, but very tough to defend given just how strong Punjab’s batting is.’