Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka is confident that the franchise’s new captain, Rishabh Pant, will achieve leadership success on par with Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Rohit Sharma in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He also predicted that Pant, the aggressive wicketkeeper-batter, will become the best player in IPL history.
As expected, LSG confirmed Pant as their captain for the IPL 2025 season on January 20. The 27-year-old was bought by LSG for a record ₹27 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. In a conversation on Star Sports, Goenka expressed strong support for Pant, backing him to replicate the leadership successes of Dhoni and Rohit in the IPL. He stated:
“According to me, he will play for the next 12-15 years. People say that MI and CSK are more successful. Mahi and Rohit are undeniably brilliant. Mark my words, after 10 years, people will say, Mahi, Rohit and Rishabh.”
Goenka continued by praising Pant for his passion and drive to win, making a bold statement about the keeper-batter. He remarked:
“In my belief, time will prove that he is not only the most successful player of the IPL, but he is going to be the best player of the IPL. I haven’t seen players with that kind of passion and hunger to win.”
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“The price tag was settled when the auction ended” – Goenka downplays Pant’s ₹27 crore acquisition
In the past, there have been instances where players didn’t perform up to expectations due to their enormous price tags in the IPL. Some experts and fans have raised concerns about Pant’s hefty price and its potential effect on his performance. However, Goenka doesn’t consider it a major concern. The LSG owner remarked:
“The price tag ended when the auction concluded. Every team has spent 120 crores. It is not relevant how much you spend on a single player or the rest.”
Goenka lauded Pant’s leadership style, noting his unique thought process. He explained:
“If you go with a conventional thought process, then it isn’t unique. I see an in-born leader in him. According to me, he will be the best captain that IPL has ever seen. I was clear that I wanted him, and I would take it.”
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