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Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant took a dig at KL Rahul after he was appointed as the captain of Lucknow Supergiants for the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Talking about his leadership approach, Rishabh Pant emphasized that he is not focused on individual performance.
Lucknow Supergiants officially named Rishabh Pant as captain during a match in Kolkata on Monday, January 20. KL Rahul, who has captained the team since its inception in 2022, was released ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, marking the end of his three-season tenure with the franchise.
Lucknow Supergiants spend big money to acquire Rishabh Pant’s services
The Supergiants spent huge money to buy the services of Rishabh Pant in the 2025 mega auction. Pant was acquired for Rs 27 crore, making him the most expensive player in the history of the league. Pant played for Delhi Capitals (DC) from 2016 to 2024 and was sacked after the 2024 season.
KL Rahul captained the IPL Lucknow Supergiants from 2022 to 2024, leading the team to the playoffs in the first two seasons but failed in the latest season. Rishabh Pant will now take over as the fourth captain of the Lucknow-based franchise, joining Krunal Pandya, KL Rahul and After Nicholas Pooran.
I keep thinking about this – Rishabh Pant
Rishabh Bhai left the chat room hesitantly 🤯
He is referring here to Iykyk pic.twitter.com/fbzExQuU1R— Spider-Man Pants (@cricwithpant) January 20, 2025
After being announced as LSG captain, Pant emphasized that his priority is to contribute runs to the team. He made it clear that his mindset revolves around improving and performing rather than worrying about leadership.
“I am the captain, or I am not the captain. I don’t think my focus is just on my individual performance, how I should run. I keep thinking about that,” Pant said.
Rishabh Pant is one of the most experienced cricketers in the IPL, having played 111 games 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 work with head coach Justin Langer and mentor Zaheer Khan to become part of the team’s leadership group.
After missing the entire IPL 2023 season due to an injury in a car accident, Pant made a strong comeback in 2024, scoring 446 runs in 13 games at an average of over 40 with a strike rate of 155.40. Despite his impressive individual performance, Delhi Capitals (DC) failed to qualify for the playoffs that year.
Lucknow Supergiants are yet to win the IPL title
Lucknow Supergiants have played three seasons since their debut in 2022 but are yet to win the IPL title. They made the playoffs their first two seasons. However, they failed to win the championship in any year. The team missed the playoffs in the most recent season and finished seventh.
With Pant now leading the team, LSG will be looking to bounce back. With a captaincy record of 23 wins from 43 matches 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 given the huge investment the team has made in him.
