Lucknow Super Giants have high expectations from their skipper Rishabh Pant, who had a quiet last season where he scored just 269 runs. LSG begin their campaign on Wednesday against Delhi Capitals, Pant’s former team before he was signed by LSG last season for a record Rs 27 crore.
Barring an unbeaten knock of 118 runs, Pant had an inconsistent run in IPL 2025, with a strike rate of 133.17. Therefore, the pressure of expectations is too high this season from the LSG skipper.
However, ahead of the Delhi clash, LSG head coach Justin Langer declined to divulge the details regarding Pant’s batting position in the match.
“I’m not telling you. Well, the truth is, I’m not gonna sit here and tell you where Rishabh Pant’s gonna bat tomorrow. I appreciate you asking, but if you want a straight answer, I’m not telling you where he’s gonna bat tomorrow because then DC knows where he’s gonna bat, and then they’ll have to deal with it tonight, not tomorrow at 7:30. Thanks for asking, though, you’ll wait and see like everyone else,” said Langer in the pre-match press conference.
The LSG coach also praised Pant’s attacking approach and added that with strong competition in India’s white-ball team, players need to keep performing consistently to make their mark.
“Well, Rishabh Pant is at his best. He is smiling, he is competitive, throwing punches and being aggressive. You all saw that game (against RCB) last year, that was brilliant. But Rishabh knows, just like every other Indian player (of competition in white-ball sides). India just won a World Cup. Try being an Indian selector or a coach, you could have three international teams. So every player, whether someone experienced like Pant or the youngster who played for Rajasthan last night (Vaibhav Suryavanshi), that they are pushing to be selected. There is pressure, and that is good. The diamonds will rise. He is batting well, he has got amazing people around him to support him and bring the best out of him,” he added.
