Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday (January 20) announced Rishabh Pant as their new captain ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The wicketkeeper and batsman has replaced his Indian teammate KL Rahul as the franchise’s new captain.
That Rishabh Pant would replace Rahul as the new captain of LSG was very clear when the franchise went all out for him in the mega auction of IPL 2025. The wicket keeper and batsman became the most expensive player in the history of IPL after being signed by LSG for a whopping amount of INR 27 million (approx. US$ 3.21 million).
Before moving to LSG, Rishabh Pant played for only one franchise – Delhi Capitals. He joined the team in 2016 and has been representing them ever since. Later in 2021, he was also named the franchise captain. Since then, he has led the franchise in every season except 2023, when he was sidelined due to injuries sustained in a life-threatening car accident in 2022.
पंत ल्कुन्व सुपर जाइन्त्स के कपतान होंगे : संजीव गोयनका
— Abhishek Tripathi (@abhishereporter) January 20, 2025
Earlier, Rishabh Pant was spotted at the Kolkata airport ahead of an event in Kolkata. A video of the wicketkeeper-batsman arriving at the airport has gone viral on social media as he has all but confirmed that he will be appointed as LSG’s new captain.
Rishabh Pant arrived at the Kolkata airport for a press conference with the owner of LSG to announce the captaincy. pic.twitter.com/xXSfUe6K6j
— Noah (@PantasticNoah) January 20, 2025
Rishabh Pant’s IPL Career:
Rishabh Pant has been involved in the IPL since 2016. Over the years, he has established himself as one of the best batsmen in the league. So far, Pant has played 111 matches and scored 3284 runs at an average of 35 and a strike rate of nearly 150. The southpaw has also scored 18 fifties and a century in the tournament.
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His best season with the bat came in 2018. In that season, Rishabh Pant scored 684 runs with the help of five fifties and a hundred. Since then he has failed to reach the 600-run mark. In IPL 2024, he scored 446 runs in 13 matches and was the top scorer for Delhi Capitals.
Rishabh Pant looks at a fresh start:
After leaving Delhi Capitals, Rishabh Pant is all set to start a new journey with LSG. The player and the franchise are looking for a fresh start. LSG was led by Rahul in the first three seasons and they failed to win the title.
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In the first two seasons, they managed to enter the playoffs, but could not reach the finals. Last season, LSG had a disappointing campaign as they finished seventh. LSG will be hoping their luck changes with the change of captain. Pant will also be hoping to finally get his hands on the coveted IPL trophy this year.
