Rishabh Pant’s rough patch in IPL 2025 continued as he managed to score just 2 runs off 5 balls against Punjab Kings on Tuesday. The Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) skipper, who was acquired for a record-breaking INR 27 crore in the IPL mega auction, has struggled to make an impact, accumulating just 17 runs in three matches so far. His lackluster performances have raised concerns among fans and critics, with many questioning whether the hefty price tag is putting undue pressure on him.
Pant’s Failure Against Punjab Kings Adds to Woes
Stepping in when LSG was in trouble after losing Mitchell Marsh and Aiden Markram, Pant had a chance to steady the innings alongside Nicholas Pooran. However, his stay at the crease was short-lived as he fell into Shreyas Iyer’s tactical trap. Glenn Maxwell, brought into the attack specifically to target Pant, bowled a short ball down the leg side, tempting the LSG captain to attempt an aggressive shot. The ball, however, went straight to Yuzvendra Chahal at short fine leg, who completed an easy catch.
This was Pant’s third consecutive failure in IPL 2025, following scores of 0 and 15 in the previous two matches.
Fans Call Out Pant for Old Punjab Kings Remark
Following his dismissal, Pant faced heavy criticism on social media, with fans digging up his past statement about Punjab Kings. Ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, Pant had expressed concerns about PBKS having the biggest purse, stating that he only wanted to be signed by Lucknow Super Giants.
“I only had one tension, and that was Punjab. They had the highest purse. When Shreyas Iyer went to Punjab, I thought I had a good chance of making it to LSG. But in an auction, you never know, so I decided to just wait and watch,” Pant had told Star Sports before the start of the season.
With his underwhelming performances so far, fans are now using this comment against him, questioning whether he was the right choice for such a massive price tag.
Match Recap: Punjab Kings Opt to Bowl First
Earlier in the match, Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and chose to bowl first at Ekana Stadium. LSG remained unchanged from their previous victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Pant mentioned at the toss that he would have preferred to bowl first but remained confident about batting first.
“We wanted to bowl first, but that’s not in our control. Happy to bat first. The crowd is here to support us, and we will give our best. No changes for us,” said Pant.
As the IPL 2025 season progresses, Rishabh Pant will be under immense pressure to justify his record-breaking price tag and deliver match-winning performances for Lucknow Super Giants.