Rishabh Pant will topple MS Dhoni, Rohit Sharma’s legacy and become the best IPL captain ever, claims LSG owner
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) owner Sanjiv Goenka has high expectations from Rishabh Pant, who has been officially named as the team’s captain for the upcoming IPL 2025 season. Sanjiv Goenka has said that Rishabh Pant has the potential to become the best captain the Indian T20 tournament has ever seen.
On Monday, January 20, Goenka held a special conversation with Pant in Calcutta. The Super Giants have broken the bank to secure the services of the left-handed batsman for the upcoming and future seasons. Panta, who became the most expensive player in IPL history, was bought by LSG for a whopping Rs 27 crore.
Rishabh Pant can win at least 5-6 IPL titles – Sanjiv Goenka
Sanjiv Goenka wants Rishabh Pant to lead the team to greatness both as a player and captain. Goenka has predicted that Pant will win at least 5-6 IPL titles in the next 10-15 years, placing him alongside cricketing legends like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma as one of the tournament’s greatest captains.
He will play for 10-15 years. During that time he can win at least 5-6 IPL titles. People will say ‘Mahi, Rohit, Rishabh’,” said Goenka.
Pant was released by Delhi Capitals after the 2024 IPL season, ending his nine-year association with the franchise. Pant has management experience with Delhi Capitals and on the international stage. He becomes the fourth player to take up this role for LSG, after Krunal Pandya, KL Rahul and Nicholas Pooran.
We kept a budget of Rs 27 crore for Rishabh Pant – Sanjiv Goenka
Goenka revealed that Lucknow Super Giants were determined to buy Pant during the auction of IPL 2025. They allocated a budget of Rs 27 crore for him and were persistent in securing his services.
“We kept a budget of Rs 27 crore for Rishabh Pant. We were adamant about getting him (during the IPL auction),” revealed Goenka.
The Super Giants are still in the hunt for their first IPL title since their debut in 2022. They failed to reach the finals despite making it to the playoffs in their first two seasons. The Lucknow-based franchise finished seventh and missed the playoffs in 2024 and will be hoping to win their first ever title in 2025.
He will probably be the best captain the IPL has seen – Sanjiv Goenka
Sanjiv Goenka wants Pant to become the greatest player in IPL history. Goenka praised Pant for his relaxed yet passionate leadership style and expressed his belief that he could become the best captain the IPL has ever seen.
“Rishabh Pant will not only be the best player of LSG but also of IPL itself. I’ve never seen someone with so much passion. He is the boy next door; his connection with players, teams and thought process is different. Conventional thought processes lack uniqueness,” Goenka said.
“I see him as a leader. He will probably be the best captain the IPL has seen,” he added.
The owner of LSG emphasized the importance of building mutual trust within the team. He admitted that Pant may be familiar with some players and not others. Goenka pointed out that winning is the ultimate goal, but both wins and losses are part of the journey.
“Rishabh Pant knows a few players, he doesn’t know others. We need to create a platform where there is mutual trust. At the end of the day, you want to win. You won’t win every game — losing and winning are part and parcel. You learn to take defeat by winning,” Goenka said.
Also read: ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Mohammed Siraj breaks silence on ODIs
