It's a 'pair' for Rishabh Pant against his former team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The Lucknow Super Giants captain lasted eight balls in two innings against Delhi Capitals and got out twice, without scoring. He's not happy. (Full Coverage | Points Table)
Yesterday, during IPL 2025 match 40 in Lucknow, Pant walked in to bat at No. 7, and he left hurriedly to a two-ball duck to signal the end of the LSG's rather tame innings, considering how they were given a solid foundation by the openers.
Asked to set a target at the Ekana Stadium on Tuesday, the Super Giants were motoring along nicely with Aiden Markram (52 off 33) and Mitchell Marsh (46 off 36) adding 87 runs for the first wicket in 10 overs. But they were restricted to 159/6, which was eventually chased down by the visitors with 13 balls to spare.
"We knew we were 20 runs short," said Pant after the match. They lost the toss and with that a certain degree of advantage, one that's inherent in this game, and only exacerbated in certain conditions. "In Lucknow, toss played a big part. Whoever is bowling first gets a lot of help from the wicket."
A fair assessment! It's a game, and there are many variables. But Pant coming out to bat with two deliveries remaining in the innings will continue to befuddle many. Was it a demotion of the captain, one botched team tactic, or even a case of the management having its say?
"The idea was to, like, capitalise. We sent [Abdul] Samad to capitalise on a wicket like that. After that, [David] Miller came in and we just really got stuck in the wicket," the losing captain did his best to explain, in an authoritative tone. "Eventually, these are the things we've got to figure out and try to find our best combination going forward."
By then, the Internet was already abuzz with talk about Pant's role as the team's captain, and the many responsibilities that come with that. In cricket, selecting the playing XI, who bats where, who bowls when and field setting, all come under the captain's purview. It's the captain's team.
The crowd puller survived a near-fatal road accident and made a triumphant return to action. Despite a lengthy injury lay-off, lasting more than a year, the 27-year-old continues to play his world-famous, fearless brand of cricket. His loyal fans continue to talk about the dynamism he brings to the game. He was even nominated for the 'Comeback of the Year' award at the Laureus 2025.
But Pant, the player, is having a torrid time out in the middle. Before Tuesday's grudge match [add: auction intrigue], he had faced 108 balls in seven innings and scored 106 runs -- not a good return for a player who was prised away from the Delhi camp for an IPL record fee of INR 27 crore.
And he was visibly distraught when a Mukesh Kumar delivery uprooted his stumps while trying to switch hit the final ball of the innings. Another duck, and the former Delhi captain uttered words as he walked back.
Of course, he was not the happiest man before taking the guard. A video footage of a fully padded-up Pant animatedly engaging with Zaheer Khan in the LSG dug-out had already gone viral.
Meanwhile, milestone man KL Rahul thought it best to hurried away from the scene after hitting the winning runs against his former team. He was released by LSG ahead of the IPL 2025.
For those who are looking for context, after a 10-wicket defeat to SunRisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024, LSG captain Rahul was reprimanded by the franchise owner Sanjiv Goenka, a public dressing down which became one of the biggest talking points in the league's history.
KL Rahul was purchased by Delhi Capitals for INR 14 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction after being released by Lucknow Super Giants. This was a significant drop in price from his previous INR 17 crore annual salary with LSG.
The 33-year-old completed Delhi Capitals' triumphant chase with a six. The eight-wicket win helped Delhi Capitals move second in the 10-team IPL table with 12 points, only behind Gujarat Titans on net run rate. Led by first-time captain Axar Patel, the Capitals are in a prime position to seal a top-four spot and qualify for the play-offs.
Pant's Lucknow, meanwhile, are fifth with 10 points from their eight matches.
Delhi Capitals' remaining fixtures
vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 27
vs Kolkata Knight Riders on April 29
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 5
vs Punjab Kings on May 8
vs Gujarat Titans on May 11
vs Mumbai Indians on May 15
Lucknow Super Giants' remaining fixture
vs Mumbai Indians on April 27
vs Punjab Kings on May 4
vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru on May 9
vs Gujarat Titans on May 14
vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 18
The 18th edition of IPL will conclude on May 25, 2025, with the Eden Gardens, Kolkata final.
