Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant took a dig at KL Rahul after he was appointed as the captain of Lucknow Super Giants for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Speaking about his approach to leadership, Rishabh Pant emphasized that he does not focus on personal performance.
Lucknow Super Giants officially named Rishabh Pant as their captain on Monday, January 20, during an event in Kolkata. KL Rahul, who has been the captain of the franchise since its inception in 2022, was released ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, marking the end of his three-season tenure with the team.
Lucknow Super Giants broke the bank to acquire the services of Rishabh Pant
Super Giants broke the bank to get the services of Rishabh Pant during the 2025 mega auction. Pant became the most expensive player in the history of the league after being bought for Rs 27 crore. Pant, who played for the Delhi Capitals (DC) from 2016 to 2024, was released after the 2024 season.
KL Rahul captained Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL from 2022 to 2024, leading them to the playoffs in the first two seasons but failing in the most recent season. Rishabh Pant will now take over as the fourth captain of the Lucknow-based side after Krunal Pandya, KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran.
I always think about it – Rishabh Pant
Hesitation Rishabh Bhai left the chat 🤯
Iykyk he meant here pic.twitter.com/fbzExQuU1R— Spiderman Pants (@cricwithpant) January 20, 2025
Speaking after being announced as LSG captain, Pant emphasized that his main focus is to contribute runs for the team. He made it clear that his mindset revolved around how he could improve and perform rather than worrying about leadership.
“I’m captain or I’m not captain. I don’t think I need to focus only on my personal performance, how I score runs. I always think about that,” Pant said.
Rishabh Pant is one of the most experienced cricketers in the IPL, having played 111 matches and scored 3,284 runs at an average of 35.31 and a strike rate of 148.93. As LSG’s new captain, he will partner with head coach Justin Langer and mentor Zaheer Khan as part of the team’s leadership team.
After missing the entire IPL 2023 season due to injuries sustained in a car accident, Pant made a strong comeback in 2024 scoring 446 runs at an average of over 40 and a strike rate of 155.40 in 13 matches. Despite his impressive individual performance, Delhi Capitals (DC) failed to qualify for the playoffs that year.
Lucknow Super Giants are yet to win the IPL title
Lucknow Super Giants are yet to win the IPL title in three seasons since their debut in 2022. They made the playoffs in their first two seasons. However, they failed to win the title in both years. In the last season, the team finished seventh and did not make the playoffs.
LSG will look to make a comeback with Pant now leading the team. With a captaincy record of 43 matches, 23 wins and a win rate of 53.48, Pant will face high expectations. It will be interesting to see how Pant handles his new leadership role considering the franchise has invested heavily in him.
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