Lucknow Super Giants owner Sanjeev Goenka confirmed on Monday that Rishabh Pant would lead the franchise IPL 2025 onwards in an exclusive interaction involving the veteran broadcasted on the Star network. Pant was acquired at the mega-auction last year for an unprecedented INR 27 crores after LSG’s reviseed bid was not met by the Delhi Capitals who had played the Right to Match card after bidding had ended at INR 20.75 crores. It was the second time the IPL record was broken on the day as Shreyas Iyer had been acquired by the Punjab Kings for INR 26.75 crores immediately before Pant’s name came up at the event and the wicket-keeper batter revealed he was relieved at how things played out.
Punjab had walked into the auction with the highest purse after retaining just two uncapped players and were expected to go after one of the three marquee former Indian IPL skippers up for grabs in Iyer, Pant, and KL Rahul. When asked which team Pant expected to go to ahead of the event, the 27-year-old admitted Punjab were the favourites which worried him.
“Mereko andar se ek hi ka tension tha… wo tha Punjab [I was only worried about going to one team, that is Punjab],” Pant said amidst a fit of laughter.
A part of every IPL season since the tournament began in 2008, Punjab are one of only three original teams to have never lifted the trophy and hold the worst aggregate record in its 17-year history. The franchise have only amde the playoffs twice — in their maiden season and in 2014 where they finished as runners-up. In the process, they have had 17 captains and 11 head coaches, more than any of their rivals by a country mile.
“Punjab outbid [any team], it was crazy. Second-best [team purse] was 82 crores, Punjab had 112… but once Shreyas went there, then I felt I could only end up in LSG,” Pant further explained.
Twitterati, as always, was quick to get in on the fun.
New captain For LSG!
Misunderstood, Not Against.
I think people are misunderstanding Pant’s statement on PBKS. I think he wasn’t against PBKS but the potential overbidding that PBKS might do for him, like 30-33cr, which would put him under immense pressure (even though he is under pressure now too due to 27 cr) @RishabhPant17
— Rishabh Parker (@AstroKing100) January 20, 2025
Congratulations Pant.. pretty sure he will win LSG’s first trophy even before trophyless KXIP.
— 𝑻𝑯𝑨𝑳𝑨 (@Vidyadhar_R) January 20, 2025
Captain Pant!
Rishabh Pant like champion deserves it.
— John. (@Sandipkumar_18_) January 20, 2025
Sometimes!!
Great to see , no doubt he is a good player
— Govind Sharma (@GovindSharmamdb) January 20, 2025
LSG Captain – Pant.
SRH Captain – Cummins.
MI Captain – Hardik.
GT Captain – Gill.
PBKS Captain – Shreyas.
RR Captain – Samson.
CSK Captain – Ruturaj.— GordXRohit (@gordxrohit) January 20, 2025
Lol!!
Wht!!?
I guess he’ll join Dhoni- KL Rahul list
— tharun (@immsst) January 20, 2025
Rishabh Pant Has Been Named Lucknow Super Giant’s New Captain #IPL2025 #IndianCricket
— Ayan Mukherjee 🇮🇳 (@I_AyanMukherjee) January 20, 2025
Leadership goals
Rishabh Pant admires Rohit Sharma’s caring leadership style.
— Denver (@dennverr__) January 20, 2025
