When Rishabh Pant returned to professional cricket after a harrowing accident, the world applauded. His comeback during IPL 2024 was seen as a triumph of will, and his subsequent role in India’s T20 World Cup campaign cemented his reputation as a tactically sharp, clutch performer. In a market that rewards redemption arcs with hard cash, Pant walked into the IPL 2025 auction as a prized asset, eventually snapped up by the Lucknow Super Giants for a jaw-dropping ₹27 crores.
It was a blockbuster buy, but several weeks into the tournament, it feels more like an over-budget sequel that’s struggling at the box office.
Pant’s bat, once a wand capable of summoning sixes from thin air, now swings more like a rusted relic, tentative and misfiring. So far, he has managed just 128 runs at an average of 12.8 and a strike rate of 99.2. Those aren’t the kind of numbers you’d raise eyebrows at if he were batting at No. 8, except he’s not. He’s captaining a franchise with playoff ambitions.
Flag end of the group stage, Pant’s batting position is still a mystery, shifting like a weather vane, opening one match, coming in at No. 8 the next. The inconsistency isn’t just tactical; it hints at deeper issues in the think tank. Is everything really fine in the LSG camp? Fans certainly seem skeptical, recent polls show growing unrest.
To make matters worse, 52.7% of the deliveries he’s faced have been dot balls, and his boundary rate is just 13%, a shadow of the havoc he used to wreak. And for the number crunchers out there, here’s the clincher: every run Pant has scored this season has effectively cost the franchise over ₹21 lakh. That’s less match-winner and more luxury liability, not the kind of investment you’d pitch in a boardroom with confidence.
But it’s not just the bat that’s betraying Pant; it’s his captaincy, too. Tactics have often appeared reactive rather than proactive. Bowling changes have lacked intuition, field placements have mirrored a defensive mindset, and the team’s energy has often reflected its captain’s hesitant, flat, and lacking conviction. With every outing, they look less like contenders and more like a talented unit adrift in a haze of underperformance.
Ironically, in a pre-season interview with Jatin Sapru, Pant joked that he was scared he might end up being picked by Punjab. Today, that offhand remark wears a different hue. Punjab Kings are flying high, playing brave, fearless cricket, while Lucknow lingers in mid-table obscurity, weighed down by indecision and inconsistency. What Pant feared might have been the spark he needed.
To be clear, no one doubts Rishabh Pant’s ability. He is still one of the most gifted stroke-makers of his generation. But form is fleeting, and reputation has an expiry date when you’re in the high-stakes cauldron of the IPL. Lucknow paid for a match-winner, a leader, and a symbol of resilience. So far, they’ve gotten flickers of intent, but no fire.
With the business end of the league approaching fast, Pant doesn’t just need to rediscover his touch, he needs to reboot his entire approach. The crown he fought so hard to wear is slipping, and the time for goodwill and patience is running out.
Is Rishabh Pant still the leader LSG needs, or is his presence doing more harm than good?
