Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant openly acknowledged that the current generation of cricketers is more focused on the IPL. While recognizing the league as a fantastic platform, he emphasized that representing the national team should be every player’s ultimate goal, with everything else taking a backseat.
Pant made history at the IPL 2025 mega auction, becoming the most expensive player ever in the tournament’s history. Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) secured the explosive left-hander for a record-breaking ₹27 crore and later appointed him as their captain.
In an interview with JioHotstar, the 27-year-old shared his views on the growing influence of the IPL among players (as quoted by PTI):
“Since childhood, I had only one dream — to play for India. I never even thought about playing in the IPL. I think today, people are more focused on the IPL. Of course, it’s a great platform, but I believe that if your goal is to play for your country, everything else — including the IPL — will eventually fall into place.”
“If you have that bigger mindset, success will follow. I always believed that I would play for India one day, and God has been kind. At 18, I got the opportunity to make my debut, and I am grateful for that,” the stumper went on to add.
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Rishabh Pant’s IPL Stats
Rishabh Pant made his IPL debut in 2016 with Delhi Capitals (DC) and remained with the franchise until the 2024 season. Across 111 matches, he has amassed 3,284 runs at an average of 35.31 and a strike rate of 148.93, registering one century and 18 half-centuries.
His highest score of 128* came off just 63 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Delhi during the 2018 season. In that explosive innings, Pant smashed 15 fours and seven sixes.
However, his brilliant effort went in vain as SRH comfortably chased down the 188-run target in 18.5 overs, thanks to unbeaten knocks from Shikhar Dhawan (92* off 50) and Kane Williamson (83* off 53), securing a nine-wicket victory.
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