Rishabh Pant’s poor form with the bat continued in the ongoing IPL 2025 season. In the crucial match between Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), Pant was dismissed after scoring just 7 runs from 6 balls. He was caught and bowled by Eshan Malinga, who cleverly bowled a slow yorker that deceived the LSG captain.
As the ball popped in the air, Malinga showed great athleticism by stretching to complete a stunning catch. This wicket came at a time when LSG was at 133/2 after 13 overs. Pant, who was bought for ₹27 crore by LSG in the mega auction last year, has had a disappointing season with only 135 runs from 13 matches. His repeated failures have drawn criticism from fans and experts alike.
Sanjiv Goenka’s Visible Disappointment
LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka’s reaction to Pant’s dismissal quickly went viral. Cameras captured him leaving the stands immediately after Pant got out. The moment was widely discussed on social media, especially because of the high expectations surrounding Pant due to his hefty price tag.
only rishabh pant could flip my pov and make me feel for sanjeev goenka. 😭
— Sneहाहाहा (@__Sn_e_ha__) May 19, 2025
pic.twitter.com/31bSSA39cw
All the good people like Sanjeev Goenka and Digvesh Rathi have come to Lucknow.
— Sandeep Yadav (@yadavsanbeep1) May 19, 2025
Who is this Digvesh Rathi..??
bring
How many people know this gentleman? People will know you if you play well and love you, not if you talk nonsense.🇮🇳#Lucknow#LSGvSRH #IPL2025 #abhisheksharma pic.twitter.com/B24MoQtaQP
This match marked Pant’s 12th poor outing in a row, leading to increased pressure on both him and the team. Goenka’s reaction seemed to reflect the frustration of a team management struggling to understand how one of their biggest investments hasn’t delivered. The moment also highlighted the tension within the LSG camp, especially with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Playoff Battle and Team Updates
Ahead of the match, SRH captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl. He said, “I will have a bowl, you never know quite what to make of the wicket, so it’s better to chase. We haven’t played to our potential, so we are trying to hit our potential. We also had a few injuries. The team has been great, they have been honest that they haven’t been at their best. Travis Head misses out, and also Unadkat misses out for personal reasons.”
On the other hand, LSG, currently on a three-match losing streak, is still in the playoff race but must win all remaining matches and hope for favorable outcomes. During the toss, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant said, “We don’t mind, we have got to do well. We are looking at one match at a time and not putting undue pressure on ourselves. I feel that as a team, we have regrouped well, and we are in a good space as a team. We have only one change, Will O’Rourke is making his debut.”
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