When Lucknow Super Giants spent a fortune in acquiring Rishabh Pant at the IPL 2025 mega-auction, making him the most expensive purchase in history at ₹27.5 crore, expectations were huge. LSG, one of the two new franchises introduced ahead of the 2022 season, had done reasonably well in the first two years. With Gautam Gambhir as mentor, they qualified for the Playoffs in 2022 and 2023 after finishing third on the points table. However, things took a turn for the worse in 2024 when LSG were stranded in seventh place. Hence, with Pant’s purchase, the franchise intended to usher in a new direction.
Or so it thought. With two defeats in three matches, Lucknow is already under fire, with Pant bearing the brunt. The LSG captain’s consecutive failures in IPL 2025 – scores of 0, 15, and 2 against Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Punjab Kings – have already triggered panic within the team management. This frustration was evident in a tense conversation between Pant and team owner Sanjiv Goenka after LSG’s humiliating 8-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings.
In an eye-opening suggestion, former India spinner Harbhajan Singh urged LSG to come up with a solution as soon as possible to fix their Pant conundrum. Pant’s T20 numbers, even outside the IPL, have been concerning, with Harbhajan calling his performance a “huge shock” for the team. “Rishabh Pant wasn’t able to do much. His bat has been quiet. They will have to do something about him getting out early. He has been a big shock for the team,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel.
Harbhajan also analyzed LSG’s struggles, stating that they had little chance to defend 171 runs against Punjab Kings. He pointed out that Nicholas Pooran’s 44 and Ayush Badoni’s 41 were the only standout performances in an otherwise disappointing batting display. Arshdeep Singh’s three-wicket haul dismantled LSG’s batting lineup, restricting them to 171/7. Punjab Kings chased down the target effortlessly, thanks to crucial half-centuries from Shreyas Iyer and Prabhsimran Singh, along with Nehal Wadhera’s unbeaten 43.
“LSG got stuck. After losing the toss, they didn’t score many runs and disappointed themselves. Nicholas Pooran played brilliantly but was trapped by Yuzvendra Chahal. Once Pooran got out, LSG’s back was pretty much broken. Ayush Badoni and Abdul Samad provided some fireworks towards the end, which helped them reach a fighting total, but it was always going to be difficult to defend against a strong Punjab batting lineup,” Harbhajan added.
Punjab Kings, one of the original eight franchises that have never won an IPL title, appear to be in formidable form this season. Harbhajan praised their performance and credited Ricky Ponting for motivating the squad. “To beat Lucknow in their home ground shows they are playing brilliant cricket. Punjab is finally resembling a team that is fighting as a unit. This team is showing traits of going all the way. Ricky Ponting has motivated the youngsters in a way that only he can,” he said.
Meanwhile, a significant post-match moment added more intrigue to LSG’s situation. After the defeat, LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka was seen having an intense conversation with Rishabh Pant, which sparked speculations about the captain’s future with the franchise. Before this discussion, Goenka was seen hugging Punjab Kings’ captain Shreyas Iyer and engaging in a lengthy chat, further fueling rumors that LSG might be eyeing a leadership change.
For the fourth time in history, Punjab Kings have won both their opening games in an IPL season, securing back-to-back victories in the 18th edition of the league. Their dominant performance against Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants has placed them in a strong position early in the tournament.
With pressure mounting on Pant and LSG struggling to find form, the coming matches will be crucial in determining the fate of both the captain and the franchise. If Pant fails to deliver soon, LSG might be forced to make some tough decisions to salvage their campaign. The cricketing world will be watching closely as the drama unfolds in IPL 2025.