 "Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant was batting on 38 at run-a-ball at one stage during the home game against Chennai Super Kings before bringing up his first half-century of IPL 2025 with a late push. AP")
Lucknow Super Giants captain Rishabh Pant shook off the rust and finally made a major contribution with the bat in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL), top-scoring for his team with a knock of 63 in Monday’s home game against Chennai Super Kings. Pant had scored just 40 runs in five outings so far this season at an average of 8 and was under immense pressure to justify his price tag of Rs 27 crore which LSG had shelled out for him in the mega auction in November.
The wicketkeeper-batter brought up his first half-century of the season on Monday to and his 19th overall in the league, with former India cricketer Irfan Pathan hailing Pant for his “brilliant batting”.
Pant’s strike rate remains a concern despite his first half-century of the season
However, several others on social media slammed the the 27-year-old for his slow batting, with Pant consuming 49 balls during his stay at the crease and finishing with a strike rate of 128.57 despite hitting a few sixes in the death overs.
Pant was batting on 38 off as many deliveries in the 17th over, with CSK left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad bowling six consecutive dots to the southpaw. LSG, as a result, hadn’t crossed the 140-mark at the end of the 18th over, and barely managed to cross 160 (166/7) in the end.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsHere are some of the more negative comments aimed at Pant on social networking platform X:
LSG are on a three-game winning streak at the moment but have made it extremely difficult to collect a fourth victory in a row with what appears a below-par total against CSK.