NEW DELHI: India’s dynamic wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant is enduring a tough phase in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, following a stellar comeback last season. After recovering from a life-threatening car crash, Pant made a remarkable return in IPL 2024, scoring over 400 runs and then playing a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph. However, his form has since dipped, leading to his exclusion from India’s white-ball squads.
Following his IPL 2024 success, Pant opted to leave Delhi Capitals ahead of the mega auction and was acquired by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) for a record Rs 27 crore. With high expectations and the added responsibility of captaincy, Pant’s struggles have become more evident. His last appearances for India in T20Is and ODIs were in July and August 2024, respectively, and he was left out of India’s playing XI during the Champions Trophy, where KL Rahul was preferred as the wicketkeeper.
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Now leading LSG in IPL 2025, Pant has failed to deliver with the bat, registering scores of 0, 15, and 2 in three matches. His inconsistent performances have put added pressure on his team, which has struggled to find rhythm this season.
Speaking on JioHotstar, former India cricketer Piyush Chawla dismissed the notion that the hefty price tag was affecting Pant’s game. “Knowing Rishabh Pant, I don’t think it’s the price tag that’s affecting him. However, he is currently not in the best of form. He has been out of the Indian white-ball circuit, and coming into this tournament as the captain of a franchise, there were high expectations of him. A lot happened last year, and naturally, a lot was expected from him this season,” Chawla said.
Pant’s extended dry run is proving costly for LSG, and his inability to contribute significantly with the bat or behind the stumps has been a concern. However, given his talent and ability to turn games around, one strong innings could be the turning point he desperately needs.
Get the latest IPL 2025 updates on Times of India, including match schedules, team squads, points table and IPL live score for CSK, MI, RCB, KKR, SRH, LSG, DC, GT, PBKS, and RR. Don’t miss the list of players in the race for IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple cap.
