Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant took a dig at KL Rahul after being appointed as the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Rishabh Pant highlighted that he doesn’t focus on personal performance while making a remark regarding his approach to leadership.
The Lucknow Super Giants officially named Rishabh Pant as their captain on Monday, January 20, during an event in Kolkata. KL Rahul, who had been the captain since the franchise’s 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
The Super Giants broke the bank to acquire the services of Rishabh Pant during the 2025 mega auction. Pant became the most expensive player in the league’s history after being purchased for Rs 27 crore. Pant, who had been with the Delhi Capitals (DC) from 2016 to 2024, was released after the 2024 season.
KL Rahul captained the Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL from 2022 to 2024, guiding them to the playoffs in the first two seasons but falling short in the most recent one. Rishabh Pant will now take over as the fourth captain of the Lucknow-based team, after Krunal Pandya, KL Rahul, and Nicholas Pooran.
I Always Think About That – Rishabh Pant
Hesitation left the chat Rishabh Bhai 🤯
Iykyk whom he is referring to here pic.twitter.com/fbzExQuU1R— Spiderman Pant (@cricwithpant) January 20, 2025
Speaking after being announced as LSG captain, Pant emphasized that his primary focus is contributing runs for the team. He made it clear that his mindset revolves around how he can improve and perform, rather than worrying about leadership.
“I am captain or I am not captain. I am not thinking that my focus is only on my personal performance, how I should make the 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 the new captain of LSG, he will collaborate with head coach Justin Langer and mentor Zaheer Khan as part of the team’s leadership group.
After missing the entire IPL 2023 season due to injuries from a car accident, Pant made a strong return 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, the Delhi Capitals (DC) failed to qualify for the playoffs that year.
Lucknow Super Giants Are Yet to Win an IPL Title
The Lucknow Super Giants are yet to win an IPL title, having participated in three seasons since their debut in 2022. They reached the playoffs in the first two seasons. However, they were unable to secure a title in either year. The team missed the playoffs in the most recent season, finishing seventh.
LSG will look to bounce back with Pant now leading the team. Pant, with a captaincy record of 43 matches, 23 wins, and a win percentage of 53.48, will face high expectations to deliver. Given the franchise’s significant investment in him, it will be intriguing to see how Pant handles his new leadership role.
Also read: IPL 2025: Rishabh Pant will demolish MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma’s legacy to become best-ever IPL captain, claims LSG owner