Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant responded to critics questioning his position due to his ongoing struggles in IPL 2025. The keeper-batter acknowledged that while one player can make a difference, blaming an individual is unfair. Pant, who became the most expensive player in the IPL auction with a ₹27 crore bid from the Super Giants, has scored just one half-century in nine innings.
The left-hander is averaging a disappointing 12.22, with only 110 runs, and managed just four runs in their 54-run loss to Mumbai Indians on Sunday. During the post-match presentation, Rishabh Pant admitted that things haven’t gone as planned but emphasized that he doesn’t want to keep questioning himself. He was quoted by ESPN Cricinfo saying:
“See (I am) keeping it very simple. Not thinking about that (his form) too much because in a season like this, where things are not going your way, you’re going to start questioning yourself as a player, and that is something you don’t want to do.”
“When the team isn’t doing well, you’ve got to think about that because eventually it’s a team game. Yes, one player definitely makes a difference, but every time if you take out the individual, it’s not the right thing to do, I guess.”
“I don’t think it’s about pressure” – Zaheer Khan on Rishabh Pant’s current form
LSG mentor Zaheer Khan expressed his support for the captain, commending Pant’s leadership abilities and expressing confidence that his form will improve in the upcoming matches. Zaheer shared this during the post-game presentation:
“He’s a leader, and he’s been fantastic as a leader. That’s something which I can vouch for. The kind of efforts he’s been taking to make sure that each individual in that group is comfortable, is heard, and the planning to do everything which goes around in IPL, he’s being spot on. As a batter… the middle order is dependent on Rishabh.”
“And I’m very confident that the impact, which we want from him, will come. It’s just about something clicking. So I wouldn’t relate it to pressure.”
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